-Caveat Lector- >From Irish Times NEWS UPDATEThursday, December 17, 1998<Picture> British Lords allow Pinochet Petition ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11.45 a.m.: General Augusto Pinochet was this morning given new hope that he could escape extradition from Britain to Spain when the British House of Lords allowed a petition to set aside an earlier Law Lords' ruling denying him immunity from arrest and extradition. In an unprecedented move, a panel of five senior past and present Law Lords decided unanimously to accept an application to rescind the Lords' November 25 decision on immunity, over concerns about possible bias. The panel spent two days listening to arguments that links between Lord Hoffmann, one of the Law Lords who made the original decision, and the human rights group Amnesty International gave rise to "a real danger of bias." Lord Hoffmann, a longtime director and chairman of Amnesty's charity arm Amnesty International Charity Ltd whose wife also works for Amnesty, cast the deciding vote in the original Lords ruling, which was passed by a 3-2 majority. The decision by fellow Law Lords to set aside that judgement will come as a severe embarrassment to Lord Hoffmann, a South African-born liberal, particularly if in the full ruling there is significant criticism of his apparent failure to appreciate the need to disclose his Amnesty links ahead of the original, costly six-day hearing. That historic judgment cleared the way for Mr Straw's decision to authorise the lengthy extradition process, as Spanish authorities seek to get Pinochet sent to Madrid to face a long list of alleged human rights crimes relating to his 1973-90 rule. By finding in the 83-year-old general's favour, the Lords opened the way for a complete rehearing of the whole immunity issue, possibly sometime next month. That could take even longer than the original six-day hearing as, in addition to Amnesty, the Chilean government could also seek to make representations, as might the governments of European countries other than Spain which have expressed an interest in extraditing Pinochet. The Lords' landmark ruling left human rights campaigners disappointed while General Augusto's Pinochet's supporters were celebrating. Carlos Reyes, spokesman for Chile Democratico and Chileans in Exile, said he feared the decision would lead eventually to the collapse of the case against the former dictator. Mr Reyes said: "I am in total shock at this decision. It appears that the Law Lords have ruled that anyone who is concerned with human rights could be biased in this case. Many of the lawyers who are working for Pinochet are concerned with human rights. It is completely wrong. "It seems to me that this could be a way out for Pinochet. From the very beginning I believed justice would be done and would be seen to be done. Now I am not so sure." Amnesty International chairman Andy McEntee said: "We are disappointed in terms of the time and effort expended and in terms of having to come back and do it all over again. (PA) <Picture> Ireland's leading rental co. Est 1959 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ <Picture> If it's on the Irish Domain, find it with IEsearch ------------------------------------------------------------------------ <Picture> Brendan Behan (1923-1964) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Front | Ireland | Finance | World | Sport | Opinion | Features | Letters Crosaire | Simplex | Dublin Live | Back Issues | Contacts | Feedback | History ------------------------------------------------------------------------ � Copyright: The Irish Times ~~~~~~~~~~~~ A<>E<>R The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes. -Marcel Proust DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
