Pope attempts untervention on Pinochet

The Pope has intervened in the extradition dispute surrounding the former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet.
The Junior Foreign Office minister Baroness Symons said in a House of Lords written reply that the Vatican had made representations to Britain about the arrest of the 83-year-old senator.
General Pinochet was arrested in London last year after Spain requested he be extradited to stand trial for alleged human rights crimes. The Foreign Office refused to say what was the nature of the Pope’s communication. "I can’t go into the matter at all," said a spokesperson.

General ‘protected freedom’

The former Conservative Chancellor Lord Lamont, who posed the question about the general, said he suspected Pope John Paul II was pressing for Pinochet to be freed.
I suspect that the representations have been made at the highest level, recognising the general’s great contribution to protecting freedom in the Cold War," he said.
The Pope visited Chile during the rule of General Pinochet, who is a fervent Catholic.
"The Pope would understand the reason for saving a country from a Marxist dictatorship," said Lord Lamont, who is in favour of allowing the senator to return to Chile.
He added: "I think Baroness Symons reply is cowardly in not giving any details. I am tabling questions tonight to confirm at which level the representations were made and what they were. I think it’s very significant. I think the Government will be embarrassed."
There has been no comment from Vatican representatives both in the UK and Italy.
It is understood the Vatican’s message was in written form and would have met with the standard Foreign Office response, which is: "We note your views but this is a legal question which can and must be resolved in the courts."

The Lords have yet to decide on whether to grant a Crown appeal against a High Court ruling that General Pinochet, as a former head of state, enjoys immunity from prosecution.

Karl Waldron lakota@clara.co.uk
http://www.lakota.clara.net