Steun de campagne van de Comité tegen Straffeloosheid in Chile !
Giro 3168  t.n.v. Pinochet naar de rechtbank, te Amsterdam

Petition to Jack Straw - Amsterdam, 18 January 2000

Amsterdam, 18 January 2000

Dear Sir Rt. Hon. Jack Straw, Secretary of State Home Affairs

Chilean and Dutch organisations, working together in the Dutch Campaign Against Impunity in Chile, are utterly disappointed by the announcement of Home Secretary Jack Straw that he is "minded", on medical grounds, not to extradite General Augusto Pinochet to Spain.

Our organisations cannot agree, in particular, with the decision of the Home Secretary not to submit the medical statements to the Spanish court in charge of the investigation of the extreme violations of human rights committed by the ex-dictator.

Pinochet's release, without an earlier opportunity for judgement of the brought charges by the court, would imply, in the last instance, a political undermining of the international treaties concerning the trial of violations of human rights; a political final decision about justice or freedom for authors of these violations, where it should be a judicial decision.

Subscribers urge Home Secretary Jack Straw, through this petition:

- to disclose the medical aspects which motivated him to consider Pinochet's release to those authorities and countries who have petitioned the extradition of Pinochet;

- to give the Spanish investigating judge the opportunity to carry out a contra-survey;

- to fully co-operate with the Spanish court, as Great Britain is committed by ratification of the article 9.1 of the "Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment".

In name of subscribers, yours sincerely,

Adán Campos

(en more than 600 signatures)