‘No justification for privilege': Chile shuts down special prison for Pinochet-era criminals
SANTIAGO, June 2 — Chilean President Gabriel Boric announced Sunday that a prison housing inmates convicted of human rights abuses during the 1973-1990 military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet will be converted to a common penitentiary.
The Punta Peuco facility north of capital Santiago holds about 100 former military dictatorship personnel who committed crimes against humanity and other rights violations, but live out their days in better conditions than those endured by the rest of Chile's prison population.
'From my point of view, there is no justification for this privilege,' Boric said during his latest report to Congress in the port city of Valparaiso.
The leftist president ordered the Ministry of Justice to transform Punta Peuco 'into a common prison that allows segregating people according to the requirements of the gendarmerie' -- the national prison service military.
Justice Minister Jaime Gajardo said the decision on who stays and who is transferred elsewhere would be a 'technical decision by the Chilean Gendarmerie.'
Human rights groups for years have called for Punta Peuco to be closed and its inmates integrated into other correctional facilities.
On her final day in office, in 2018, president Michelle Bachelet ordered the shutdown of Punta Peuco. But her justice minister refused to comply, claiming the decree was legally flawed.
Boric on Sunday also announced that the expropriation order for the former Colonia Dignidad, a German-themed settlement in southern Chile where a brutal cult carried out the torture and killing of dissidents under the Pinochet dictatorship, will be carried out in June.
Last year he ordered the requisition of 116 hectares of the 4,800-hectare site to make way for a center of remembrance.
Some 3,200 people died under the dictatorship and over 38,000 cases of torture were recorded. — AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
World Cup qualifier: Messi's starting spot up in the air as Argentina weigh fitness before Chile clash
BUENOS AIRES, June 5 — Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said on Wednesday he had yet to decide whether captain Lionel Messi would start in their next World Cup qualifier against Chile, as he continues to closely monitor the 37-year-old's fitness. With their place at the 2026 World Cup already secured, Argentina, who lead the South American qualifying standings, travel to face bottom-placed Chile on Thursday without several regulars and with Messi's role uncertain. 'We've been in contact (with Messi) recently. We haven't decided yet whether he'll play from the start or not. It would be good to know how he's feeling physically,' Scaloni told reporters. 'It's clear that today we're in a position to try other things. In principle, he's available to play, and we'll decide later.' With a number of key players sidelined by injury or suspension, Scaloni called it a chance to test new talent ahead of their World Cup title defence next summer in the United States, Mexico and Canada. 'We're going to have a lot of players out. If some of the guys we call up are fit and ready to play, they'll get their chance,' he said. 'I don't have the starting eleven confirmed yet, but we will give some playing time to players who haven't played much and who we believe are ready to play. 'Although the result is always important, we don't think it's crucial today. We'll probably try to help these players settle in and give them the chance to get some playing time with the team.' The 47-year-old coach stressed that Argentina's mentality remains unchanged and delivering a strong performance is still the priority. 'We want to play, it's good for us to see other players, even those who are playing well. A match is never inopportune,' Scaloni said. 'It's not that we national teams play so much that we would say we don't want to play this match. On the contrary. We think it's a nice match to play, with its difficulties. We are in a good position.' Scaloni also weighed in on Carlo Ancelotti's appointment as Brazil coach, saying he believes the Italian will strengthen the five-time world champions. 'I think it's great. We're talking about one of the best coaches of recent times. He's going to raise the profile of Brazil even more,' Scaloni added. 'I like his attitude, I like everything about him. I think he's going to be good. At the end of the day, he enriches the game. He's welcome here and I wish him all the best.' — Reuters
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Malay Mail
‘No justification for privilege': Chile shuts down special prison for Pinochet-era criminals
SANTIAGO, June 2 — Chilean President Gabriel Boric announced Sunday that a prison housing inmates convicted of human rights abuses during the 1973-1990 military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet will be converted to a common penitentiary. The Punta Peuco facility north of capital Santiago holds about 100 former military dictatorship personnel who committed crimes against humanity and other rights violations, but live out their days in better conditions than those endured by the rest of Chile's prison population. 'From my point of view, there is no justification for this privilege,' Boric said during his latest report to Congress in the port city of Valparaiso. The leftist president ordered the Ministry of Justice to transform Punta Peuco 'into a common prison that allows segregating people according to the requirements of the gendarmerie' -- the national prison service military. Justice Minister Jaime Gajardo said the decision on who stays and who is transferred elsewhere would be a 'technical decision by the Chilean Gendarmerie.' Human rights groups for years have called for Punta Peuco to be closed and its inmates integrated into other correctional facilities. On her final day in office, in 2018, president Michelle Bachelet ordered the shutdown of Punta Peuco. But her justice minister refused to comply, claiming the decree was legally flawed. Boric on Sunday also announced that the expropriation order for the former Colonia Dignidad, a German-themed settlement in southern Chile where a brutal cult carried out the torture and killing of dissidents under the Pinochet dictatorship, will be carried out in June. Last year he ordered the requisition of 116 hectares of the 4,800-hectare site to make way for a center of remembrance. Some 3,200 people died under the dictatorship and over 38,000 cases of torture were recorded. — AFP
The Sun
29-05-2025
- The Sun
Chile government proposes to legalize abortion up to 14 weeks
SANTIAGO: Chile's government said Wednesday it had introduced a bill in Congress to legalize abortions up to 14 weeks of pregnancy, a key pledge of left-wing President Gabriel Boric during his 2022 election campaign. In Chile, abortions are only permitted for three reasons: a threat to the life of the mother, serious malformation of the foetus, or rape. 'Thirty-six years after therapeutic abortions (terminations due to medical necessity) were banned in our country... we are opening the debate in Congress,' Minister for Women Antonia Orellana told reporters. She was referring to dictator Augusto Pinochet's 1989 repeal of a law allowing abortions on health grounds, which ushered in a total ban on terminations for over 25 years. The bill unveiled by the government on Wednesday comes a year after Boric announced plans to decriminalize all abortions. His minority Frente Amplio (Broad Front) party faces an uphill battle to get the bill through parliament, with the conservative opposition vehemently opposed to expanding abortion rights. Orellana admitted it would be 'naive' to think that abortions would be legal before Boric's presidency ends in March 2026. Decriminalizing abortion under all circumstances is a long-standing demand of feminist groups in Chile. A poll by the Centre for Public Studies showed, however, that only 34 percent of Chileans back the right to abortions regardless of circumstances, whereas 50 percent believe terminations should only be allowed in special cases. Boric, who became Chile's youngest-ever leader in 2021 aged 35, failed in his bid to put expanded abortion rights in a new proposed constitution in 2022. Voters however rejected the draft charter.
