Vatican Intervenes in Pinochet Case

The Vatican confirmed Friday that it intervened in the extradition row over Gen. Augusto Pinochet, asking the British government to send the former Chilean dictator home.

Spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said the Vatican made its appeal about a month ago after a request from the Chilean government.

Pinochet was arrested Oct. 16 in London on a Spanish warrant alleging that he ordered killings, torture and hostage-taking during his 17-year rule.

Chile, which opposes a foreign trial for the 83-year-old Pinochet, expressed concern about “national sovereignty, including in the field of justice,” Navarro said.

The Vatican spokesman also made a reference to another of Chile’s arguments, that Pinochet’s arrest interferes with the process of national reconciliation.

Human rights activists expressed outrage Friday at the Vatican’s intervention.

Carlos Reyes, president of the London-based anti-Pinochet group Chile Democratico, said: “We are shocked that the pope is supporting Pinochet, especially when the pope himself said in a homily in December that blood has stained the hands of those responsible for genocide and they have to be arrested.”

Britain’s Foreign Office said Friday that the appeal came not from the pope directly but from “a senior level at the Vatican.”

An official Chilean report says 3,197 people disappeared or were killed at the hands of Pinochet’s secret police during his regime.

Pinochet, who remains under armed guard in a rented mansion west of London, is fighting extradition to Spain.

His lawyers contend that, under British law, Pinochet is entitled to immunity for any acts committed while he was head of state.

A ruling on the immunity issue from Britain’s highest court is pending.

The Vatican’s intervention in the case was disclosed Thursday by Baroness Symons, a British Foreign Office official, in response to a question in the House of Lords.

A Foreign Office spokesman said Britain responded to the Vatican appeal, but he would not disclose any details.