Amnesty International Urges Britain to Prosecute Augusto Pinochet

Strategic Insights -

Amnesty International has renewed its call for British authorities to prosecute the former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, even if Spain abandons its extradition request. The human rights group argues that Pinochet's actions, including alleged torture, would fall under the UK's criminal justice act and the UN Convention Against Torture, making him liable for prosecution in Britain. The organization has written to the UK attorney general, Lord Williams, to press its case, citing the disappearance of a British citizen, William Beausire, in 1975 as one example of the crimes for which Pinochet could be held accountable.

Key Takeaways:

  • Amnesty International has written to the UK attorney general, Lord Williams, pressing the case for Augusto Pinochet's prosecution under the UK's criminal justice act and the UN Convention Against Torture.
  • The human rights group argues that Pinochet's alleged crimes, including torture, would make him liable for prosecution in Britain regardless of whether Spain proceeds with extradition.
  • The UK government has confirmed that it has not yet been asked to consider prosecuting Pinochet for the 1975 disappearance of William Beausire, a British citizen.
  • Amnesty International believes there are cases of alleged torture in Chile after 1988 that would fall under the UK's criminal justice act and could be pursued against Pinochet.
  • Extradition requests from France and Switzerland would become active if Spain withdrew its request, providing further grounds for Pinochet's detention.
  • Amnesty International has been pressing the UK attorney general to recognize the case against Pinochet under the criminal justice act for some time, but has yet to receive a response.

Statistics:

  • Augusto Pinochet has been under arrest in Britain since October.
  • Spain's extradition request for Pinochet would become inactive if dropped, but extradition requests from France and Switzerland would remain in place.
  • The estimated number of people estimated to have been tortured or killed during Pinochet's rule in Chile is not specified in the source material.
  • The number of cases of alleged torture in Chile after 1988 is not specified in the source material.

Sources:

  • Sue Quinn, "Amnesty International Urges Britain to Prosecute Augusto Pinochet" (The Guardian, exact date not specified).
  • Amnesty International, letter to Lord Williams, UK attorney general, (exact date not specified).
  • United Nations Convention Against Torture (adopted December 10, 1984).
  • UK Criminal Justice Act (1988).