Magistrate Finds Pinochet Extraditable

On October 8, 1999, Mr. Ronald David Bartle, Metropolitan Magistrate in the Bow Street Magistrates’ Court, ruled that Gen. Augusto Pinochet can be extradited to Spain to stand trial on torture and conspiracy charges. Meanwhile, the British Government has rejected the formal request of the Chilean Government to release Pinochet on humanitarian grounds. Spain has rejected the Chilean Government’s request to arbitrate and both governments are preparing to litigate the matter in the International Court of Justice. Responses by the U.S. Government to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests are bringing attention to the role of the U.S. Government in facilitating or contributing to the Pinochet entry into power through the violent overthrow of the predecessor Allende Administration and furnishing intelligence and law enforcement cooperation to the Pinochet Government’s efforts, in cooperation with the Condor group, to repress its detractors...[more]