Bachelet Reopens Chile’s Torture File

[Judi Lynn]

Bachelet Reopens Chile’s Torture File
Written by Eva Salinas
Wednesday, 06 January 2010 04:41
An additional 4,000 cases could be accepted and awarded compensation

The Chilean government is reopening its report on torture, which resulted in the registration and compensation of more than 28,000 cases from the Pinochet era, five years after its original assessment.

The government announced last week that, starting immediately following the run-off presidential election on Jan. 17, the National Commission on Political Imprisonment and Torture, also known as the Valech Commission, will begin collecting new cases for a six-month period.

More than 28,000 cases of political detention and torture were accepted during the commission’s original investigation in 2004 and 2005. Then-president Ricardo Lagos had ordered the eight-member commission, lead by Catholic Church leader Mons. Sergio Valech, to address the need for reparation. More than 35,000 people gave their written testimony of alleged torture during General Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship — between Sept. 11, 1973 and March 10, 1990.

As a result, 28,459 cases were registered, with each victim receiving an average of $121,000 (US$239) in monthly pension.

Since the commission’s initial report, groups including Amnesty International Chile (Amnistia Chile) argued there was more work to be done and now applaud the reinstatement of the commission.

More:
http://www.santiagotimes.cl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17962%3Abachelet-reopens-chiles-torture-file&catid=43%3Ahuman-rights&Itemid=39