Chilean leader vows to expedite Colonia Dignidid memorial
Chilean President Gabriel Boric assured German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Wednesday that Chile wants to expedite construction of a memorial for the victims of Colonia Dignidad sect.
At a joint press conference with Steinmeier, Boric referred to a recent decision to expropriate a large area of the site of the former colony. "This government wants to implement the expropriation as quickly as possible and build the memorial together with the victims," Boric said in Santiago.
Steinmeier emphasized that Germany and Chile owed it to the victims to ensure that this memorial is built. "We know the pain of the victims and we know the victims' desire for a place of remembrance."
Steinmeier had spoken to victims himself the day before. They described their harrowing fates to him. "Everyone in the room realized how much the issue still moves people," he said at the press conference.
Steinmeier thanked Boric for vigorously pursuing the issue. In response to the question of whether the memorial would be built in the remaining two years of Steinmeier's term of office, so that he could inaugurate it, he replied, "We will make every effort to get it done."
Abuse and torture in ColoniaDignidad
Colonia Dignidad was a place of unimaginable suffering. The German lay preacher Paul Schäfer moved from Germany to Chile with his followers in 1961. He founded a settlement for the sect around 400 kilometres south of Santiago.
For decades, Schäfer made the sect members work there without pay until they were exhausted. Schäfer tore families apart and abused German and Chilean children.
During the military dictatorship under General Augusto Pinochet from 1973 to 1990, opponents of the regime were tortured and murdered on the settlement grounds.
In 2005, the Chilean government placed Colonia Dignidad under administration. Today, the area, renamed Villa Baviera, is open to visitors.
Chancellor Scholz had already promised support
For years, there have been efforts to build a memorial for the victims of Colonia Dignidad.
During a visit in January 2023, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised the support of the German government.
Boric thanked the German government for "its willingness to help find the truth."
Steinmeier praises Chile as a reliable partner
Steinmeier praised Chile as an important strategic partner of Germany. "At a time when the multilateral world order and even the United Nations itself are being called into question, we not only want to, but must work even more closely together as friends and partners."
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