The Lords' decision was based on the possible bias of one of the judges on the original panel which ruled that Pinochet was not immune. But we are confident that Pinochet will not escape his day of reckoning. The group pointed out that Britain is bound by its ratification of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment to extradite General Pinochet to a country that seeks to try him, or to put him on trial in the United Kingdom.
International law is unmistakable.
The United Nations' Committee Against Torture reminded the U.K. of this obligation in a ruling last month. A new panel of five Lords will convene in January. The group said that it would again seek leave to present legal arguments to the Lords, as it had in the November proceedings.