Big Nurse Ratched* kicks Pinochet into the cold

[MichaelP]

Big Nurse Ratched* == with acknowledgment to Ken Kesey's "One Flew Over
the Cuckoo's Nest" -

The general gets his orders: stop moaning and get out

By Nick Hopkins and Richard Norton-Taylor
Guardian (london) Tuesday December 1, 1998

Chilean officials were trying desperately to find accommodation for
General Augusto Pinochet last night after the private clinic where he is
staying said it would consider suing him unless he leaves immediately.

The Grovelands Priory Hospital in Southgate, north London, has been urging
Gen Pinochet to go for a fortnight.

Doctors treating the former Chilean dictator say there is nothing wrong
with him, and staff are tired of the disruption his presence is causing.
"Grovelands is not a hotel and it is not a secure unit either," said a
source.

There have also been murmurings that Gen Pinochet, who is used to staying
in five-star hotels on his travels abroad, has been a difficult and fussy
patient who "enjoys a good moan". The hospital's frustration came to a
head yesterday afternoon when executives, led by Grovelands' director,
David Cole, issued an ultimatum.

In a terse meeting, the general's aides were told that he had outstayed
his welcome and that other patients needed his bed. The hospital, which
charges up to #330 a day, indicated it would take "whatever means
necessary" to evict him.

Afterwards, the hospital said it was preparing to "discharge Gen Pinochet
from its care". The statement continued: "It was stated in open court over
two weeks ago that Gen Pinochet was fit enough to appear at an initial
bail hearing.

"He no longer requires the specialist medical and nursing care provided at
Grovelands Priory. The management has reminded his advisers of this and it
is hoped that Gen Pinochet will find alternative accommodation as quickly
as possible."

Mr Cole made it plain he will instruct lawyers if there is any
prevarication. One option is to sue the general for trespass. "That is a
possibility," said a source. "The hospital is considering several legal
alternatives."

The Grovelands hospital first mooted that Gen Pinochet should leave two
weeks ago, when an in-house psychiatrist, Geoffrey Lloyd, concluded that
the 83-year-old was not suffering from any psychological problems.

Reports last week that the general, who was admitted on October 29,
shortly after surgery on his back, might be suffering from a
stress-related disorder amazed his carers. "He could have left weeks ago,"
said a source.

"We have been told, time and again, that his people are looking for
another place for him to stay, but nothing has happened."

The Chilean embassy is looking at properties in Weybridge and Virginia
Water, upmarket areas of Surrey.

Diplomats were caught out by last week's law lords decision that Gen
Pinochet was not immune from prosecution, and are trying to hire a house
which will meet with his exacting standards and the security requirements
of police.

The Chilean foreign minister, Jose Miguel Insulza, flew to Spain yesterday
after a meeting with the Defence Secretary, George Robertson, who insisted
that the decision on whether Gen Pinochet should be extradited was for the
Home Secretary, Jack Straw, and "not a matter for collective ministerial
discussion".

Whitehall and industry sources yesterday played down the threat to British
weapons sales to Chile - now worth only about #1 million a year. British
Aerospace said yesterday that there was no suggestion that its joint
venture with Famae, a Chilean Government-owned company, to develop the
Rayo artillery rocket system, was threatened.

The general's supporters, meanwhile, are revealing more details of secret
intelligence co-operation between Britain and Chile during the Falklands
war, to step up pressure on the Government.

Senator Evelyn Matthei, the daughter of Chile's air force commander during
the Falklands war, revealed in a letter to a Sunday newspaper that Chilean
radar and communications intelligence had kept the British fleet in the
south Atlantic informed of Argentinian aircraft movements, via an RAF wing
commander.

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