Monitor: Spanish press comment following the Law Lords' ruling on General Pinochet
All the News of the World
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE LAW Lords ruled that Pinochet can be tried only for crimes committed after 20 September 1988... and that sanctions cannot be applied retroactively. The verdict is highly disputable on this point since there is an extensive doctrine in international law that upholds the contrary. The prosecutor, Alun Jones, argued that the Convention against Torture puts no limit on the time for punishing crimes against humanity, which can and must be pursued by any state according to the Tribunal of Nuremberg. It's obvious that the general cannot now be tried for the thousands of murders committed by his regime during the Seventies. But the British judges have established the principle that crimes of state cannot remain unpunished. That is the important thing. Henceforth any tyrant or mass murderer can be put on trial. That is an enormous legal, ethical and political triumph. The ruling has reconciled with law and justice.
El Mundo
PINOCHET'S SUPPORTERS must admit he was subjected to an impeccable legal process, backed by all the guarantees that he denied his victims. Yesterday's ruling imposed a compromise formula between UN, Spanish and British legislation. It also made progress towards an irreversible change in the framework of international law, which now recognises that political dignity must be preceded by human dignity. If today some realpolitik can be invoked, it is for the scrupulous respect for the person. It is no longer realistic to believe that order is possible without justice.
ABC
THE IMMEDIATE consequence is that Pinochet stays in London for the time being. The second is that he could be extradited to Spain. The most profound result, however, is the gust of fresh air blown through flagging international law, in which the Pinochet case has become a trial of fire of rulers' immunity or not for atrocities committed while they are in office. In London, the door has opened to a universal justice that must culminate in an international criminal court.
El Pais
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments