Venezuela Asked to Take Action Against Nazi Collaborator

VOA News 07 Feb 2003, 18:10 UTC

A Nazi-hunting organization has called on Venezuela to take legal action against an Estonian accused of war crimes during World War II.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center in Jerusalem says Venezuela should press charges against Harry Mannil or expel him. Mr. Mannil, now a Venezuelan citizen and businessman, was a member of a police unit in Nazi-occupied Estonia during the war.

Mr. Mannil was in Costa Rica earlier this week when authorities there told him he must leave and not return, citing his Nazi involvement.

Mr. Mannil has not commented, but the Associated Press reports he has said in the past that he never took part in war crimes against Estonian Jews.