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DATE=3/24/99 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-247091 TITLE=PINOCHET RULING (L) BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN DATELINE=LONDON CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: BRITAIN'S HOUSE OF LORDS HAS RULED THAT FORMER CHILEAN LEADER AUGUSTO PINOCHET IS NOT PROTECTED BY DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY AND CAN FACE EXTRADITION TO SPAIN. BUT V-O-A CORRESPONDENT LAURIE KASSMAN REPORTS FROM LONDON THE LAW LORDS SAY EXTRADITION WOULD BE ONLY VALID FOR CHARGES OF TORTURE COMMITTED AFTER 1988. TEXT: THE FINAL RULING BY SIX TO ONE SAYS MR. PINOCHET CAN FACE EXTRADITION TO SPAIN ON CHARGES OF TORTURE AND CONSPIRACY TO TORTURE FOR ALLEGED CRIMES COMMITTED AFTER SEPTEMBER 1988. ONE LAW LORD EXPLAINS THAT IS WHEN BRITAIN RATIFIED THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE. /// OPT // LAW LORD ACT /// THE MAJORITY, THEREFORE, CONSIDERS THAT SENATOR PINOCHET CAN BE EXTRADITED ONLY FOR THE EXTRADITION CRIMES OF TORTURE AND CONSPIRACY ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN COMMITTED AFTER THE EIGHTH OF SEPTEMBER 1988. /// END ACT /// PIERRE SANE OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS HE IS SATISFIED WITH THE JUDGMENT. /// SANE ACT /// I THINK THAT EVEN IF THE NUMBER OF CASES IS LIMITED DUE TO THIS TECHNICALITY, AS LONG AS SOME OF THE VICTIMS CAN BRING THEIR CASES INTO A COURT OF LAW, BE HEARD, AND THE INFORMATION BE SHARED, AND JUSTICE BE METED OUT, THIS IS A POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT /// END ACT /// AN EARLIER JUDGMENT BY THE LAW LORDS ALSO RULED THAT MR. PINOCHET IS NOT IMMUNE FROM PROSECUTION AND CAN FACE EXTRADITION. BUT THE EARLIER RULING WAS SET ASIDE BECAUSE OF ONE JUDGE'S LINKS TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION. CHILEAN EXILES WAITING OUTSIDE THE HOUSE OF LORDS FOR THE VERDICT BROKE INTO LOUD CHEERING, BEATING DRUMS IN CELEBRATION. /// APPLAUSE AND EXILE ACTS /// I'M RECONCILED WITH BRITISH JUSTICE AGAIN. I THINK THIS IS GOING TO HAVE INTERNATIONAL CONSEQUENCES AND NOW DICTATORS ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE GOING TO THINK TWICE BEFORE OPENING TORTURE CENTERS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY CAN BE JUDGED. THE FAMILIES OF THE DISAPPEARED ARE THE ONES WHO DESERVE THE VICTORY BECAUSE IT'S A VICTORY AND ALSO FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENTS IN THE WHOLE WORLD. /// END ACTS /// THE LAW LORDS' RULING OPENS THE WAY FOR THE EXTRADITION CASE AGAINST MR. PINOCHET TO GO AHEAD BUT SEVERELY LIMITS THE NUMBER OF CHARGES AGAINST HIM. A SPANISH JUDGE HAS ACCUSED THE FORMER CHILEAN RULER OF THE MURDER, TORTURE AND DISAPPEARANCE OF CHILEANS AND OTHER NATIONALS AFTER HE SEIZED POWER IN A BLOODY COUP IN 1973. (SIGNED) NEB/LMK/JWH 24-Mar-99 11:34 AM EST (1634 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .