UK: AUGUSTO PINOCHET MEETS LADY THATCHER (V)

(26 Mar 1999) Spanish/Eng/Nat
VOICED BY: Louise Bates
Former British Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher called on Britain Friday to release General Pinochet immediately and allow him to return to Chile.
While meeting the former Chilean leader, Thatcher praised him for restoring democracy to Chile - and said Britain owed a debt to him because he sided with London during the 1982 war between the UK and Argentina.
A regular visitor to Britain, Pinochet was arrested on a Spanish warrant alleging crimes against humanity committed by his security forces during his 1973-1990 rule.
The one-time British Prime Minister is a long-standing friend of the former dictator, and has been a harsh critic of his detention.
VOICE-OVER:
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Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher met her friend General Pinochet at his estate outside London, where's he's being held under house arrest.
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Her highly publicised visit came just two days after the House of Lords upheld his arrest.
Baroness Thatcher is a harsh critic of the former dictator's detention, and has campaigned for his release since October.
(0.25) SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) Pinochet
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Pinochet thanked her for her support and kindness.
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She in turn, praised him for serving as Britain's ally during the Falklands War, and for work in his own country.
(0.41) SOUNDBITE: (English) Baroness Margaret Thatcher.
"We are also very much aware that it was you who brought democracy to Chile."
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After their meeting, Thatcher returned to her offices.
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There, she repeated her call for General Pinochet to be released immediately.
(0.56) SOUNDBITE: (English) Thatcher:
"If there's any resulting jurisdiction, it should be by the people of Chile in the courts of Chile, not here."
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However, General Pinochet's fate now rests in the hands of Britain's Interior Minister Jack Straw.
(1.14) VISION ENDS

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