LABOUR MEP Mrs Eryl McNally from Abbots Langley has written to Prime Minister Tony Blair, asking him to withdraw the government’s invitation for a Chilean navy training ship to visit London.

The boat, the Esmeralda, was used in 1973 by the regime of general Augusto Pinochet to detain and torture both Chilean citizens and foreign nationals.

Mrs McNally, who represents the East of England in the European Parliament, said: “I’ve reminded the Prime Minister that the Esmeralda is known to have been the scene of assassination and systematic torture by the Chilean regime in September 1973.

"I’ve told him that the proposed visit would be degrading to those people who were tortured or killed on board the ship and well as being distressing to the families of victims, many of whom now reside in Europe.

“A refusal to receive the boat might also put pressure on the current Chilean government to refrain from putting obstacles in the way of those seeking redress through the courts for the crimes of the Esmeralda.

“I believe that the planned visit of the Esmerlada to London between 15th and 18th July this year should not go ahead. If the government were persuaded to cancel the visit this would reflect the emphasis placed on human rights in the European Union – Chile Association Agreement that was voted by the European Parliament last year.” Readers wanting more information about the Esmeralda can visit www.chile-esmeralda.com.”