Augusto Pinochet

Re “Britain Arrests Ex-Dictator Pinochet,” Aug. 18: I was pleased to see that the article mentioned the proposed extradition of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. I note that Chilean officials were concerned about the illegality of arresting a man who was traveling on a diplomatic passport. Were they equally concerned about the thousands of murdered civilians killed by the Pinochet regime and dropped into the ocean after their bellies were slit open (so they wouldn’t float)? Or the tortured students whose bodies were never returned to their still-grieving mothers? Was the intervention of Richard Helms, then CIA director, who engineered the death of Salvador Allende and his replacement with Pinochet, ever fully reported by our media?

How can so-called humans be concerned about legality when dealing with this murderer (“asesino” as he is known in Chile)?

LEONARD M. LINDE

Los Angeles

* The arrest of Pinochet, in my opinion, is a sound decision of a democratic government and a courageous British prime minister who found the political will to enforce international laws. The message is very clear. War criminals, dictators and torturers cannot rest in peace. Wherever they go, as long as it takes, the democratic segments of the international community will find the perpetrators of crimes against humanity and make them accountable for their actions.

NESTOR FANTINI

Northridge