By MariaMaria #466 CM/FM 3220 11/98

Pinochet: The Ways of This World and the Ways of Heaven!

Pinochet arrested in London

New York Times News Service / AP

On October 17, General Augusto Pinochet, who ruled Chile for 17 years‚ was arrested in London after Spain asked that he be extradited for the presumed murders of hundreds of Chilean and Spanish citizens. Pino­chet‚ who is 82 and who stepped down as commander in chief of the ­Chilean military five months ago, was in ­London for surgery on a herniated disc in his back.

Pinochet led a violent coup to overthrow Salvador Allende Gossens, the elected ­Social­ist president in 1973. An estimated 3,000 Chileans were shot in the streets or "disappeared" ­during his rule.

Under a constitution that he guided to enactment, Pinochet was able to become a senator for life upon his retirement from the military, a position that afforded him continued political influence and immunity from prosecution. He was traveling on a diplomatic passport.

Chileans are deeply divided in their opinion of the Pinochet legacy, with approximately a third of the country viewing him as a hero‚ another third viewing him as a ­villain and the rest voicing ambiguous opinions.

On October 28, The English High Court recognized Pinochet's immunity from prosecution as a former chief of state, but an appeal on that ruling has yet to be decided. A five-judge tribunal in the House of Lords, Britain's highest court‚ has been deliberating Spanish and British prosecutors' appeal of the High Court ruling awarding Pinochet immunity from prosecution for any crimes com­mitted as a foreign head of state.

The Chilean gov­ern­ment, admitting "deep political differences" with Pinochet, continues to seek his release "as a matter of principle"—claiming he has diplomatic immunity and that foreign courts have no right to deal with events that occurred in Chile.

1. (Mama: ) After we read of the arrest of General Augusto Pinochet in London and received reports from the Family in Chile about the situation there, we asked the Lord if He could give us any more insight into the situation. He responded with the following message:

2. (Jesus speaking:) Pinochet was a man of war, a man of strength in days past. He had a vision for his people and a desire to help them, and he sought to bring prosperity to his nation. But he did so mostly out of pride and not out of love. He sought to take them out of the grip of communism, but in doing so he only took them from one bad system to another.

3. In those days his heart was hard and his ambition and desire for power and glory ate at him. Thus while on the one hand he brought financial stability and security, with the other hand he hurt and destroyed many innocent lives. For the way of this world and its politics are complex; they are a great web of deceit, of selfishness, and of corruption. It is difficult, almost impossible, to find a man who holds political office who has not at some time fallen prey to corruption and temptation.

4. For the Devil has been given control over the kingdoms of this world, and thus for the most part, except for My intervention, he gives them to whom he will and has great sway over the actions of those he places in power. Pinochet was also corrupted because of his ties with the Evil Empire of the USA, who assisted him in his strong–arm efforts to take over Chile.

5. Many other rulers are just as evil or corrupt as he, but most have been able to keep their dark deeds in a corner. This one did not; the blood ran freely through the streets in his country and it was known far and wide. This in turn humbled him and helped him see face to face the destruction and terror he had brought about, and I was able to touch and change his heart. I have made him a different man, I have softened him and given him wisdom over the years.

6. I have forgiven him for his sins because he came to Me seeking forgiveness. He has humbled himself before Me, and I have washed the bloodstains away with My blood, by My sacrifice on the cross. I forgive whom I will forgive. Look not on the outward appearance, asking how I could forgive such a one as this. As My Word says, I would that all men were saved and set free from death, that they might dwell with Me. I look on the heart, because repent­ance is a matter of the heart.

7. But others do not see this nor understand such forgiveness, and the heart of man is unforgiving. Though I have forgiveness and though I give it freely, the heart of man nat­urally becomes bitter and hateful, and that is what has happened to many of the Chilean people, particularly the ones who have grown up in ­exile outside their land. They suffered, and most unjustly‚ but the greatest suffering during those many years was that which they brought upon themselves. They allowed themselves to relive the bad experiences over and over—the ­horrors, the terror, the loss. They have reveled in it and have nursed their hurts and grudges until the hate within them has grown to where it can no longer be controlled.

8. Fear not, for I will have My way in this. I will use it to reach the people of Chile, many of whom feel lost, confused, upset, and mixed up in this great controversy. I will also use the gravity of the situation to help some of those who are bitter and full of hate and revenge to see where this path is heading and what kind of people they are becoming.

9. My way is the humble way, the yielding way, the trusting way. There are those who say, "He has done evil, but let us not be like him by seeking to harm him as he harmed us." These are those who follow My way, who have partaken of My spirit of forgiveness, and who will find happiness.

10. As for Pinochet himself, while I have forgiven him, it is still true that what a man sows, he will reap. If you sin, if you harm ­others, it always comes back to you in some way. You must take responsibility for your wrongdoing and often receive some punishment for it. Sin does not condemn you to Hell‚ for I give forgiveness, but the way of the ­transgressor is hard. I have made life to be a great boomerang. Those who have hurt others always feel the effect somehow‚ to the degree necessary in ­order for them to learn their lesson; and also to teach the lesson to those who follow after, that they may learn from the mistakes of others.

11. He is old‚ and soon to go on to his Home on the other side, in the realm of the Spirit; yes, in the Heavenly land, for he has come to Me‚ and he who comes to Me I will in no wise cast out. I will give him grace and strength for the ordeal, and when the controversy has accomplished its purpose, I will release him.

12. In the meantime I will use it to prove My power in protecting My children, and My power in helping those who are confused or tormented by the past to find freedom in Me. I can help you, My children, to teach people how all things work together for good‚ even though they may not see it now, and perhaps never will in this life. Some people can see things positively; they can take the bad with the good. Many realize that Pinochet has done good things for their country, though he also did many terrible things.

13. Men of force are men of faults, and when these men of force operate in their own spirits—or worse yet‚ under the influences of the spirits of evil—their faults are great and their wickedness overflows the barriers. Even if they seek to do good, they become blinded in their lust for victory and power‚ as was this one.

14. But where there is life, there is hope. There was hope for this one's salvation, and he was saved. There is also hope for him to completely learn his lessons, and to be released. There is hope for those who have suffered to find comfort and relief in Me. And there is hope for this country [Chile] to prosper and grow, and for its people to find their strength and peace in Me. (End of message from Jesus.)

15. (Mama:) Thank the Lord for His viewpoint on these matters! Following are excerpts of some news clips where various journalists share their viewpoints or describe the situation in Chile, many of which confirm the message the Lord gave above.

The crisis over Pinochet

The Guardian, Oct.20

The arrest of the former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet has sparked off a series of diplomatic crises for the British govern­ment. The United States is understood to be making behind–the-scenes overtures for the general not to be extradited to Spain to face charges of torture and genocide for fear of what might emerge about the U.S. role in the coup that brought him to power. The U.S. was instrumental in providing advisers to assist General Pinochet before and after his coup and in the subsequent "counter-subversive" role. There were around 400 American "advisers" assisting General Pinochet.

Pinochet is Chile's problem

By Philip Bowring

International Herald ­Tribune, Oct.21

Dangerous assumptions of European moral superiority are implicit in the Spanish and British behavior toward former President Augusto Pinochet of Chile. Europe has grabbed the ­baton of global ethics policeman and is trying to apply the same sort of extraterritoriality that it often accuses the United States of.

The British media have been full of cant [hypocritically pious language] about making the world safer from dictators, punishing war crimes, globalizing human rights. It seems not to occur to these self-appointed guardians of the rule of law and democracy that it is up to the Chilean people to settle with General Pinochet. They have done so through democratic process. That is their prerogative, to try to end years of bitterness and division.

This is what the British government is itself trying to do in Northern Ireland. Yet on the principle being espoused in the Pinochet case, Gerry Adams or others associated with the IRA could be brought to trial in, say, Germany, for violating the human rights of those people killed or injured outside Britain.

Is Ariel Sharon to be hauled into court in Australia to answer for the destruction wrought during the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon in the course of which Australian citizens of Lebanese origin were tortured or had their rights abused?

The possibilities are endless. In conflicts, international or civil, torture and abuse of rights are all too common. Negotiated peace settlements must involve some degree of forgiveness of past behavior. Europeans have rarely wanted to apply judicial vengeance to themselves, by prosecuting cabinet ministers for murder and torture in former colonial territories.

The Pinochet case is a big step backward, with some nasty implications for peace processes everywhere. It is also stunningly hypocritical.

Pinochet's arrest presents his enemies with a dilemma

By Anthony Faiola

Washington Post Foreign Service‚ Nov.5

By all rights, Sen. Sergio Bitar should have been ecstatic when former Chilean president Augusto Pinochet was arrested in England last month at the request of a Spanish judge.

Bitar, 57‚ a powerful left-wing politician, was a cabinet minister for Socialist president Salvador Allende, who was found dead of a bullet wound hours after Chilean air and ground forces attacked the presidential palace in the 1973 coup that installed Gen. Pinochet as head of a military junta.

After the coup‚ Bitar was arrested and sent to a frigid labor camp on a remote island in southern Chile. Later, he was forced to flee his homeland, living in exile in Washington‚ Boston and Venezuela.

But Bitar is now one of many former dissidents who have become high–ranking politicians and diplomats in Chile's new democratic govern­ment and are calling for the return of Pinochet‚ 82. They argue that his arrest violates Chilean sovereignty and that the retired general's alleged complicity in human rights abuses during his 17-year rule is Chile's problem to solve.

Their position has caused a political fire­storm‚ as factions on the left argue that these lawmakers and diplomats are at best naive and at worst sellouts.

Former dissidents calling for Pinochet's release chafe at such accusations, arguing that they are simply trying to hold together Chile's democracy and rule of law.

"We believe in making sure that he is not tried illegally in Spain—that makes us different from Pinochet, it shows that we respect the ­human rights that he disrespected," said Jose Miguel Insulza, an exile for 14 years and now Chile's foreign minister. "What do they want us to do? Drag him out in the middle of the night and arrest him like he did to so many others? No, we won't be like him."

16. P.S. As we were finalizing this Letter, we heard the news that Britain's highest court has ruled that General Pinochet does not have immunity from arrest, meaning the former ­Chilean leader must remain in custody while Spain seeks his extradition. The 3–2 decision by a tribunal of the House of Lords came on Pinochet's 83rd birthday. It reversed a previous court ruling that Pinochet's arrest was illegal because he had immunity under ­English law for ac­tions taken as a foreign former head of state.

17. Pinochet must now appear in court on Dec. 2, the deadline by which British Home Secretary Jack Straw has to decide whether extra­dition proceedings can go ahead. If Straw blocks the Spanish extradition proceedings, then extradition requests lodged by Switzerland, France and other countries also would likely fall away. If Straw gives the go-ahead, Pinochet faces a long battle through the British courts against extradition. n