Chilean dictator was arrested in London and set for extradition to Spain – but Blair adviser Jonathan Powell negotiated his freedom Keir Starmer, Jonathan Powell (front); behind: genocider Au…
Skwawkbox links to this Guardian article, which itself is sourced from a book from the time. It doesn’t seem that far-fetched that a renowned negotiator would be involved with a negotiation.
This article Guardian article, on top of just being an allegation in a book, doesn’t accuse Powell of doing what Skwawkbox says he did.
Literally all it says is that the press chief of the 1999 Chilean government (i.e. 10 years and 2 governments after Pinochet stepped down) had meetings with Powell. That’s it. Seems normal to me. I imagine the UK government would be chatting to Chile if they arrested David Cameron tomorrow.
Frei and his government, by the way, was anti-Pinochet. During his presidency, he indicted and arrested Pinochet.
I don’t know how you could read that and think it’s a confirmation that Powell negotiated release for Pinochet.
Frei argued to Blair that neither government would benefit if Pinochet were to die in England and that he could be tried in Chilean courts. […] Blair undertook to do what he could within the law provided the exchanges between the two leaders were kept secret. The authors claim that Blair suggested setting up a ‘back channel’, with two people appointed to liaise between the leaders’ private offices.
Skwawkbox links to this Guardian article, which itself is sourced from a book from the time. It doesn’t seem that far-fetched that a renowned negotiator would be involved with a negotiation.
This article Guardian article, on top of just being an allegation in a book, doesn’t accuse Powell of doing what Skwawkbox says he did.
Literally all it says is that the press chief of the 1999 Chilean government (i.e. 10 years and 2 governments after Pinochet stepped down) had meetings with Powell. That’s it. Seems normal to me. I imagine the UK government would be chatting to Chile if they arrested David Cameron tomorrow.
Frei and his government, by the way, was anti-Pinochet. During his presidency, he indicted and arrested Pinochet.
I don’t know how you could read that and think it’s a confirmation that Powell negotiated release for Pinochet.
It absolutely argues that: