Letter: Scouts in Chile

Sir: Were the approach espoused by Alfredo Barriga (letter; 7 December), namely that Pinochet should not be extradited because it would only encourage dictators to cling more tenaciously to power, to be taken seriously, then we might as well tear up the Universal Declaration on Human Rights immediately. All other gross violators of human rights should likewise be brought to justice, preferably before an international tribunal, because that would show that human rights abuses are everybodys business.

The Cold War is long over and with it should have died the realpolitik and retrospective justification for American support for anti-Marxist crusaders like Pinochet. Now we have another set of excuses: commercial interests. The Law Lords' decision has shown that we are moving towards a more enlightened era where respect for the basic human rights of individuals will rank equally with, if not above, the property interests of powerful businesses.

NICK ROSE

London NW5