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DATE=10/19/98 TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-240426 TITLE=PINOCHET / ALLENDE (L ONLY)(CQ) BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: CHILEAN CONGRESSWOMAN ISABEL ALLENDE HAS WELCOMED THE ARREST OF FORMER DICTATOR AUGUSTO PINOCHET IN LONDON. MS. ALLENDE WAS INTERVIEWED BY BRAZIL'S LARGEST NEWSPAPER, THE FOLHA DE SAO PAULO, AS WE HEAR FROM CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN RIO DE JANEIRO. TEXT: MS. ALLENDE IS THE DAUGHTER OF PRESIDENT SALVADOR ALLENDE, WHO DIED WHEN HE WAS OVERTHROWN BY GENERAL PINOCHET IN 1973. MS. ALLENDE TOLD THE FOLHA DE SAO PAULO THAT THE GENERAL'S ARREST ON ORDERS OF A SPANISH JUDGE IS A VICTORY FOR DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE. IN HER WORDS -- THE ARREST OF THE RETIRED GENERAL SHOWS THERE IS NO INTERNATIONAL IMPUNITY FOR GENOCIDE. THE CHILEAN LAWMAKER SAYS GENERAL PINOCHET IS GOING TO BE INTERROGATED FOR THE FIRST TIME CONCERNING CRIMES COMMITTED DURING THE MILITARY DICTATORSHIP FROM 1973 TO 1990. SHE SAYS THAT COULD NEVER HAPPEN IN CHILE, BECAUSE THE GENERAL -- NOW A LIFETIME SENATOR -- IS PROTECTED BY AN AMNESTY FOR CRIMES DURING THAT PERIOD. MS. ALLENDE SAYS IF GENERAL PINOCHET IS ACTUALLY TRIED, IT WOULD PROVE THAT JUSTICE IS SLOW BUT POSSIBLE. SHE SAYS IT IS IMPORTANT THAT HE BE TRIED WITH FULL RESPECT FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW. MS. ALLENDE RECOGNIZES THAT MANY CHILEANS REGARD GENERAL PINOCHET AS A SAVIOR OF THE NATION, ALTHOUGH OFFICIAL REPORTS SAY THAT DURING HIS RULE SECURITY FORCES KILLED MORE THAN THREE THOUSAND PEOPLE. ACCORDING TO MS. ALLENDE, GENERAL PINOCHET DIVIDED THE NATION, AND IT WILL TAKE A CENTURY FOR PEOPLE TO AGREE ON HIS ROLE IN HISTORY. (SIGNED) NEB/GM/WTW 19-Oct-98 2:23 PM EDT (1823 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .