Urgent Action: UN EXPERTS ALARMED OVER IMPUNITY IN CHILE (Chile 91.23)

On November 27, 2023, UN special rapporteurs on peaceful assembly and association and on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions publicly called on Chilean authorities to “advance the prosecution and sanction of state agents responsible for crimes committed during the 2019-2020 protests”. In a sharp statement, they raised their alarm at the lack of criminal prosecution of any police commander and reiterated that “it is the responsibility of the state to hold commanders accountable.” We urge the Prosecutor of the Centre-North Metropolitan Region to, should sufficient evidence exist, formally charge the commanders of Carabineros who could be responsible for these violations.

take Action:

• Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
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contact Information:

Sample Letter:

Dear Mr. Xavier Armendáriz, 

I am writing to you gravely concerned over the prevailing impunity that surrounds the widespread human rights violations committed by the Chilean police during the repression of mass protests, especially with respect to the high command of Carabineros of Chile. 

Since 2020, Amnesty International has time and again called on the Chilean Attorney General’s Office to determine the responsibility of operational and strategic commanders for the crimes and violations committed by the police. We have also called on Chilean judicial authorities to “initiate proceedings regarding all those who may bear responsibility and, where appropriate, to prosecute them in order to ensure access to justice for victims and their families”. These commanders may include the Director General and the Director of National Directorate of Order and Security in office during the events. 

There is a growing global cry against impunity in Chile. We call on you to formally present charges and start criminal proceedings against Carabineros’ commanders, if there is sufficient admissible evidence to do so, within the framework of a fair trial and all due process guarantees. 

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

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