Related
External Links
- Britain's House of Lords
- Amnesty International's argument, as submitted to the House of Lords. The Pinochet Decision, from
- argument, as submitted to the House of Lords. The Pinochet Decision, from Human Rights Watch
- Why Pinochet Should Not Go Free -- a briefing from the Chile Solidarity Campaign Chilean nationals tell their story on the
- -- a briefing from the Chile Solidarity Campaign Chilean nationals tell their story on the World Socialist Web Site
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window)
Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, currently facing extradition for trial on charges of human rights violations, has received support from an unexpected quarter: Tibet's nonviolent, exiled leader the Dalai Lama.
Visiting Chile as part of a South American tour, the Dalai Lama said, "in the Pinochet case, as an individual, now old," it might be best to forgive him, the Nobel laureate told reporters in Santiago.
"I think forgiveness is important, but forgiveness does not mean to forget about what happened."
Pinochet Timeline Oct. 13, 1998 Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet arrested at a private hospital in London on a Spanish extradition warrant for alleged murder of Spanish citizens during his rule. Ann MacMillan reports for CBC TV. Oct. 28, 1998 London court rules Pinochet is immune from arrest because he was head of state at time of alleged crimes. Paul Hunter reports for CBC TV. Nov. 3, 1998 Britain's highest court, the House of Lords, hears appeal launched by Spanish lawyers. Don Murray reports for CBC TV. Nov. 25, 1998 House of Lords decides by a 3-2 margin that Pinochet is not immune from arrest. Don Murray reports for CBC TV. Dec. 16, 1998 Pinochet lawyers argue bias after one of the House of Lords judges is found to have strong ties to Amnesty International. Dec. 18, 1998 House of Lords sets aside their own ruling and orders a new hearing. Derek Stoffel reports for CBC Radio.
Over 3,000 people disappeared or died during the Pinochet rule in 1970s and 1980s. Several dozen of those people were Spanish nationals, and Spain is seeking to extradite the 83-year-old Pinochet for trial.
Pinochet is currently under house arrest in Britain while he fights the extradition.
The Dalai Lama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.
Meanwhile in London, another well-known world leader has urged the release of Pinochet: former U.S. President George Bush.
On Monday, the London Times newspaper printed a letter written by Bush to Lord Lamont, a Conservative member of the House of Lords.
In the letter, Bush called the case against Pinochet a "travesty of justice," and also said "Pinochet should be returned to Chile as soon as possible."
During the Cold War, Pinochet was widely considered to be friendly to U.S. interests because of his powerful anti-Communism.
Share Tools
Top News Headlines
- Everest victim's family asks for government help
- The family of a Toronto woman who lost her life in pursuit of her lifelong dream to climb Mount Everest is asking the Canadian government to help pay the cost of bringing her body back to Canada. more »
- Teens share bullying tales in confession booth
- Raw stories about bullying emerged when a video booth was set up inside a Quebec high school. more »
- Foreign investment review threshold rising to $1 billion
- The federal government is raising to $1 billion the amount of foreign money that can go into a Canadian company before the investment is reviewed. more »
- Double-lung recipient dances on Ellen show
- Organ donation advocate Hèlène Campbell of Ottawa made her second appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, but her first since undergoing a double-lung transplant. more »
Latest World News Headlines
- Man faces murder charge in 33-year-old missing boy case
- A former New York City convenience store clerk is now accused of murdering one of the first missing children to ever appear on a milk carton. more »
- Reclaiming the dead on Mt. Everest
- The difficulty, danger and expense of removing the bodies of climbers who died in Mount Everest's "death zone" mean most of the dead remain on the mountain as a stark reminder to other climbers of the risks. more »
- Neil Macdonald: How compromise became a dirty word in Washington
- As brinkmanship becomes the norm in this U.S. election year, some policy analysts, and even some long-serving Republicans, are calling out today's GOP for practising 'the new politics of extremism.' more »
- Tsunami motorcycle heading to Harley museum in Milwaukee
- The Harley-Davidson motorcycle that drifted across the Pacific Ocean after the tsunami last year will be put on display at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the company announced Friday. more »
Dispatches »
- Foreign slaves serving the U.S. military machine May. 24, 2012 3:33 PM How does a hairdresser recruited for work in Dubai, wind up slaving for the U.S. military in a war zone in Iraq? There are tens of thousands serving in what's come to be known as America's "Invisible Army."
Connect Newsroom Blog
Etan Patz Arrest, Helene Campbell & Facebook Flop May. 24, 2012 8:54 PM Three decades after a U.S. child Etan Patz disappeared, an arrest has finally been made.
- Reclaiming the dead on Mt. Everest
- New mom among dead in Aylmer triple stabbing
- Employment Insurance review boards to be scrapped
- Workers' EI history to affect claim under new rules
- Conservatives move again to have robocalls suits tossed
- Teens share bullying tales in confession booth
- SpaceX capsule captured by Canadarm2
- Coffee prices get jolt in jittery economy
- Gatineau police to question man in multiple homicides
