Emotions run high after Pinochet's dramatic release

Anti-Pinochet activists read British Home Secretary Jack Straw's decision outside the Home Office Thursday in London

Outrage, disappointment and for some, joy

March 2, 2000
Web posted at: 12:59 p.m. EST (1759 GMT)

In this story: First silence, then outrage Celebrations in Santiago RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

LONDON -- Britain's decision on Thursday to free Gen. Augusto Pinochet sparked outrage in human rights groups and joyous celebrations among his supporters, while the nations that wanted to extradite him on charges of human rights abuses resigned themselves to the decision.

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The Spanish judge whose attempt to prosecute Pinochet initiated 16 months of legal wrangling and Pinochet's house arrest in England launched a last-minute appeal to try to block the former Chilean dictator's release.

But his appeal had to be forwarded to Britain through the Spanish government, which said it would respect British Home Secretary Jack Straw's decision and refused to take further action.

Protesters outside the Home Office in London shouted their disapproval of Straw's decision. They said their campaign had not been in vain because it had focused attention on the issue of human rights abuses under Pinochet's rule.

Pinochet came to power in Chile in a bloody military coup in 1973 that toppled democratically elected President Salvador Allende. Activists have vowed to bring him to justice for atrocities against his political opponents and ordinary citizens. An official Chilean report says 3,197 people disappeared or were killed during his 1973 to 1990 regime.

Outside the luxury estate near London where Pinochet, 84, had been under house arrest, anti-Pinochet activists stood in stunned silence before yelling "Murderer!" and "We want justice!

"This really is a mockery of justice. The whole question of whether Pinochet was unfit to stand trial is still open," said Nicholas Cshergo, a 27-year-old student.

Straw, who had said he was inclined to free Pinochet after medical tests showed he was not fit to face trial, gave his final word on Thursday by ruling out his extradition to Spain and quashing bids by Switzerland, Belgium and France.

Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel said Belgium would not appeal or take the case to the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

The public prosecutor behind the Swiss extradition request blasted Straw's decision and castigated Britain as "a haven for criminals."

A spokesman for French President Jacques Chirac said the president hoped Pinochet would face trial in Chile or elsewhere and that justice would be done.

A lawyer for French citizens who disappeared or died in Chile during Pinochet's rule said Straw's move smacked of politics.

"A hasty return home of General Pinochet will leave a bitter taste in the mouth and nourish for many years the suspicion that the decision was not taken for humanitarian reasons but for political reasons," William Bourdon told France Info radio.

A Pinochet supporter in Santiago reacts on Thursday to news that the general is on his way to Chile

In Santiago, Chile, news of Pinochet's release sparked wild pre-dawn celebrations by his supporters, who planned a hero's welcome.

Members of the Pinochet Foundation gathered at their headquarters waving Chilean flags and photos of the general. The head of the foundation said, however, that some of their joy was overshadowed by Pinochet's long detention.

On the other side of the Chilean capital, solemn-faced anti- Pinochet activists vowed to bring the former dictator to justice. Human rights groups were clearly crestfallen but said the case had focused a spotlight on other dictators like Pinochet.

"It's a terrible disappointment for Pinochet's thousands of victims that he will not face trial in Spain," said Reed Brody, advocacy director of New York-based Human Rights Watch. "But the very fact that he was arrested and that his claim of immunity was rejected has already changed the calculus of dictators around the world."

Amnesty International agreed and said the next move was up to Chile.

"The Chilean government must now live up to its commitment to ensure that those accused of crimes against humanity can be tried in Chile in trials meeting international standards of fairness," the London-based rights group said in a statement.

A crusading judge is investigating more than 50 civil lawsuits filed against Pinochet in Chile and human rights lawyers hope that concrete charges will be brought.

Corespondents Nic Robertson, Amanda Kibel and Reuters contributed to this report.

Former Chilean dictator Pinochet leaves Britain
March 2, 2000
Britain's home secretary to announce Pinochet decision Thursday
March 2, 2000
Court to rule on releasing Pinochet's medical exam
February 9, 2000
Belgium, human rights groups push to keep Pinochet in custody
February 7, 2000
British judge rejects opening Pinochet medical report
January 31, 2000
Belgium, rights groups go to court to stop Pinochet's release
January 26, 2000
Belgium, human rights groups challenge Pinochet medical exam
January 25, 2000
Rights groups to ask British High Court to intervene in Pinochet case
January 24, 2000

President of Chile
Human Rights Watch
Amnesty International On-line: human rights website
The Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture

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