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Letter from Eryl McNally, Member of the European Parliament, to Tony Blair
Rt Hon Tony Blair MP
10 Downing Street
London, SW1A 2AA
UNITED KINGDOM
14 June 2003
Dear Tony,
I would like to register my protest about the planned visit of the Chilean
training ship Esmeralda to the United Kingdom this summer. The UK
government, along with the governments of France, Germany and Spain, plans
to welcome this ship, which was the scene of assassination and systematic
torture by the Chilean administration in September 1973, as recognised by
the conclusions of the Chilean National Commission of Truth and
Reconciliation in 1991.
Such a visit by the Esmeralda would be degrading to those people who were
tortured or killed on board the ship, as well as being distressing to the
relatives of the victims, many of whom are now resident in Europe. I have
received a letter, a copy of which I know has been sent to you, from a woman
whose brother died as a result of torture on board the ship. I believe that
she puts a very moving case for not wanting to be reminded of the dreadful
events that took place in Chile.
In addition to these concerns, taking a decision to cancel the visit would
also reflect the emphasis placed on human rights in the EU-Chile Association
Agreement that was voted by the European Parliament in November 2002.
I would therefore ask to you to reconsider the position of the UK government
as regards the visit of the Esmeralda, and to follow the lead given by the
Swedish and Dutch governments, both of which have cancelled visits planned
by the ship following protests.
Yours sincerely,
Eryl McNally MEP
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