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Patricia Woodward's letter to the British Prime Minister
21st May 2003
Rt.Hon. Tony Blair M.P.
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London SW1A 2AA
Dear Prime Minister,
In relation to the authorisation granted by the British government to the
Chilean government for the visit of the Chilean training ship Esmeralda to
Dartmouth and London this summer, I have written to the Secretary General of the
Council of Europe, Mr. Walter Schwimmer, as attached.
As you will see, I point out that the ship was the scene of asssassination and
systematic torture by agents of the State of Chile in September 1973. Amongst
the victims was my brother Fr. Michael Woodward, of dual British and Chilean
nationality.
Despite the conclusions to this effect of the Chilean National Commission of
Truth and Reconciliation in 1991, successive Commanders in Chief of the Chilean
Navy have denied those facts and successive heads of the Chilean government have
chosen not to require them to rectify their denials. President Lagos, who, from
its decks, wished the ship godspeed in April, will be visiting London at the
time of the Esmeralda´s arrival on July 14th.
I have asked Mr. Schwimmer to take up the matter of the ship´s visit with your
government and those of France, Germany, and Spain - the other countries which
are still on its European itinerary (visits to Sweden and Holland have been
cancelled following protests). I have requested that the Council of Europe issue
recommendations whereby the policy decisions which authorised such visits be
considered as degrading to victims of the Esmeralda and relatives of victims now
resident in Europe on the grounds that they are in breach of Article 3 of the
European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,
which reads:
"No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment"
I have further requested that he recommend that each of these countries should
reconsider its policy and rescind its authorisation for the visit of the
Esmeralda to its ports.
In addition, I have written to Mr. George Papandreou (also attached), in his
capacity as President of the European Council of Ministers, pointing out that
the Chilean government is in breach of Articles 1, 12, and 16 - in respect of
human rights - of the Association Agreement between the EU and Chile, approved
by the European Parliament in November 2002 subject to ratification by national
Parliaments.
I have asked Mr. Papandreou to transmit this information to the governments of
relevant member states. This would enable them to reconsider the proposed
ratification of the Association Agreement and to urge the Chilean government to
amend their human rights policy, actions, and procedures.
I hope that the British government will respond positively to the requests which
I anticipate you will receive along these lines, in relation to the visit of the
Esmeralda, from the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the President
of the European Council of Ministers.
I have written in similar terms to the Foreign Secretary, Mr. Jack Straw. In
that letter I expressed my profound regret at the decision of the British
government to authorise the visit of the Esmeralda, while recognising the
outstanding support provided to me by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and
the British Embassy in Santiago in my efforts to overcome the many obstacles
which the Chilean government and others have placed in the way of my search for
justice on behalf of my brother.
Yours sincerely,
Patricia Woodward Bennetts
Attachments:
Letter to Mr. Walter Schwimmer
Letter to Mr. George Papandreou
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