Pinochet and Ricardo Lagos

     The Pinochet case was entwined with the Chilean presidential election. Among the protests against the decision of British Home Secretary Jack Straw to consider allowing Pinochet to return to Chile for health reasons was one in Madrid featuring the Guatemalan Maya Rigoberta Menchú, She is being used as a symbol, rather like the Cuban boy Elián. Presumably her foundation pays her travel expenses, but who supports the foundation? What has she to do with Chile, unless she represent part of the Indian intifada, which is being promoted throughout Latin America?
     The election of Socialist Ricardo Lagos as president was an American-style hoopla, with white (?!) balloons abundant and supporters jumping up and down. He embraced the widow of Salvador Allende, but then said he was president of all the Chileans. The defeated conservative candidate, who had once worked for the Pinochet government went, with his wife and assured Lagos of his support. Lagos he would leave the Pinochet case to the judiciary, while those demanding his trial whistled in disapproval. The case is far from over.

Ronald Hilton - 1/17/00