Web pages about "Chile"

Video: Worldwide actions to close Guantánamo

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:28:43 +0000

Video placeholder

Thousands of people, including Amnesty International members and supporters from around the world, have taken action to mark the sixth anniversary of the first transfers of detainees to Guantánamo. Amnesty International staged protests in 30 countries on Friday, 11 January.

The world shouts 'Close Guantánamo'

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 12:55:25 +0000

Click on the pictures to the right to watch a slideshow with images of the day.

More than simply a call for closure, Amnesty International once again presented the US government with the organization’s framework for ending illegal detentions, whether at Guantánamo or elsewhere. This time, the framework was supported by over 1,200 parliamentarians from around the world.

In some countries, including Belgium and Ireland, some of the parliamentarians accompanied Amnesty International activists at their events and demonstrations.

The infamous orange jumpsuit – closely associated with the inhumanity and illegality of Guantánamo – became once more the icon of this anniversary. There was also street theatre, poetry readings, the recreation of Guantánamo cells in city centres, speeches, rallies and cyber activism.

US military chief wants to close Guantánamo

On Sunday, two days after the anniversary, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, US Navy Admiral Michael Mullen became the latest US official to say that Guantánamo should be shut down.

“More that anything else, I just think it has been the image – how Gitmo has become around the world, in terms of representing the United States. I believe from the standpoint of how it reflects on us that it’s been pretty damaging.”

What you can still do

Go to tearitdown.org and add your support to Amnesty International’s framework to end illegal US detentions.

Post a tearitdown banner in your website or blog.

Chile - Amnesty International Report 2008

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:38:11 +0100

Several of those responsible for human rights violations during the military dictatorship were brought to justice. Indigenous communities continued to experience widespread discrimination and other abuses.

Background

A wave of strikes and demonstrations erupted during 2007. The protests expressed widespread anger over economic inequality and debate over the need for a minimum wage intensified. In Santiago, where thousands took to the streets, there were violent clashes and a number of demonstrators and police officers were injured. Hundreds of protesters were detained for short periods.

Impunity – justice for past violations

A number of military officials and former secret service agents were found guilty of involvement in abductions, torture and killings during the military government of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990).

In October, Manuel Contreras, former head of the secret service, and three former agents were sentenced to between 10 and 15 years in prison for the abduction in 1974 of Jorge D’Orival Briceño of the Revolutionary Left Movement (Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria) who was later killed because of his political affiliation.
However, in November the Supreme Court acquitted retired colonel Claudio Lecaros of the enforced disappearance in 1973 of Vidal Riquelme, Cesario Soto, both peasant leaders, and Rubén Acevedo, a businessman, on the grounds that the statute of limitations on these crimes had expired. The Court had previously ruled that crimes against humanity and war crimes were not subject to the statute of limitations, in accordance with customary international law.
In September, former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori was extradited to Peru to answer charges of corruption and human rights violations.

Discrimination – Indigenous rights

In March the UN Committee on Human Rights expressed concern about the use of anti-terrorism legislation against members of the Mapuche community who had taken part in activities in support of Indigenous land rights.In February the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern at the high levels of poverty faced by Indigenous children and the discrimination they experience in accessing education and health services. The Committee made several recommendations including the incorporation of Indigenous rights into the Constitution and the ratification of ILO Convention No.169.

On 15 September police raided the Temucuicui community, IX Region, and confiscated some livestock. When villagers asked for an explanation, police officers allegedly racially abused them. Reportedly the police were searching for stolen animals. The police later returned the animals but re-entered the community firing their weapons and injuring at least one person.
On 18 June, three children from the Mapuche community of Ranquilco were interrogated at school by members of the Section of Police Investigation about land occupations. A petition for a protection order for the three children stated that the questioning was “causing real terror for the children and for many parents, who fear reprisals against their children.”

Violence against women

Chilean NGOs recorded at least 60 killings of women during 2007. Weaknesses in the legislation, bureaucratic procedures and inadequate policing continued to make prosecutions for domestic and sexual violence against women difficult.A new law proposed by President Bachelet which would incorporate the killing of women (femicide) as a specific crime in the Chilean Criminal Code was debated in Parliament.

Amnesty International reports

Human Rights Council elections 2008 - Chile

Thu, 08 May 2008 11:01:45 +0100

Amnesty International is concerned at reports that members of the Mapuche indigenous group have been subjected to discrimination and ill-treatment. During operations in indigenous communities, law enforcement officials are alleged to have used excessive force and racial verbal abuse, and to have carried out unjustified confiscations.

In 2007, the Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern about the poor living conditions of indigenous children and the discrimination against them in access to education and health services. The Human Rights Committee also expressed concern about the application of anti-terrorism legislation against members of the Mapuche community who had participated in activities in support of indigenous land rights.

There are also reports of harsh prison conditions, overcrowding, lack of medical attention and ill-treatment.
At least 60 women were reported killed during 2007. Prosecutions for domestic and sexual violence are often difficult due to weak legislation, bureaucratic procedures, and inadequate policing.

Although the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled in September 2006 that the application of amnesty provisions of the 1978 Amnesty Law was not admissible, this decree law is still in force. A number of former military officials and former secret service agents have been found guilty of involvement in abductions, torture and killings during the military government of Augusto Pinochet in 1973-1990.

However, in November 2007 the Supreme Court acquitted retired colonel Claudio Lecaros of the enforced disappearance of three individuals in 1973, on the grounds that the statute of limitations on these crimes had expired. In this way, the Court reversed its previous ruling that, in accordance with customary international law, crimes against humanity and war crimes are not subject to the statute of limitations.

In September 2007, former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori was extradited to Peru, where he has been charged with corruption and human rights violations.

Recent Amnesty International statements and reports:

General

Amnesty International Annual Report extracts for Chile, 2005-2007

Ratification of International Treaties

Treaty	Status	Recognition of specific competences of Treaty Bodies	Reservations/ Declarations
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)	Ratified	Art.41 (inter-state complaints)
Optional Protocol to the ICCPR	Acceded		Entered
Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR on the death penalty	Signed
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights	Ratified
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)	Ratified		Entered
Optional Protocol to CEDAW	Signed
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination	Ratified	Art. 14 (individual complaints)
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)	Ratified	Art. 21 (inter-state complaints) Art.22 (individual complaints)	Entered
Optional Protocol to CAT	Signed
Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)	Ratified
Optional Protocol to the CRC on children in armed conflict	Ratified		Entered
Optional Protocol to the CRC on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography	Ratified
International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of their Families	Ratified		Entered
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance	Signed
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court	Signed
Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees	Acceded		Entered
Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees	Acceded		Entered
The Four Geneva Conventions	Ratified
Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts	Ratified
Protocol II to the Geneva Conventions relating to the Protection of Victims of Non-International Armed Conflicts	Ratified
Protocol III to the Geneva Conventions relating to the Adoption of an Additional Distinctive Emblem	Signed

Compliance with Reporting Obligations

Total Overdue Reports	Up to 5 years overdue	5-10 years overdue	10 years or more overdue
6	CERD: 17th and 18th periodic reports CMW: initial report	CERD: 15th and 16th periodic reports	CAT: additional information

Cooperation with the Special Procedures

Extension of a standing invitation	Outstanding visit requests (year requested)	Forthcoming visits (dates if available)	Missions carried out between May 2007 and April 2008
None	Special Rapporteur on the right to education (2007) Special Rapporteur on sale of children (2007) Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion (2008)	None	Working Group on mercenaries (July 2007)

Sources:

Official website of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights – http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/ratification/index.htm
http://www.unhchr.ch/
http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/chr/special/countryvisitsf-m.htm
Official website of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – http://www.unhcr.org/protect/3c0762ea4.html
Official website of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court – http://untreaty.un.org/ENGLISH/bible/englishinternetbible/partI/chapterXVIII/treaty11.asp
Official website of the International Committee of the Red Cross – http://www.cicr.org/ihl.nsf/Pays?ReadForm

Chile - Amnesty International Report 2007

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:22:46 +0100

Mapuche Indigenous people were harassed and ill-treated by the police. Student demonstrations were dispersed by the security forces, allegedly with excessive use of force. Harsh prison conditions and ill-treatment of detainees were reported. A resolution by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights highlighted the need to annul the Amnesty Law.

Background

In January Michelle Bachelet became the first woman president of Chile. She took office in March pledging to advance social equality and the promotion and protection of fundamental rights, to promote a National Programme of Human Rights and to take the legal and judicial steps necessary to secure truth and justice for past human rights violations.

In May, the Chilean Supreme Court released former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori on bail pending a decision on whether to extradite him to Peru where he was accused of corruption and human rights violations. By the end of the year, no decision had been reached and he remained in Chile under an arraignment order which prevented him from leaving the country.

In December, Augusto Pinochet, who governed Chile between 1973 and 1990 following a coup, died in Santiago. Under his government gross human rights violations considered crimes against humanity were committed. At the time of his death he was facing charges in Chilean courts in relation to a financial inquiry (the Riggs case) and four human rights cases - the Prats case, Villa Grimaldi, Operation Colombo and the Caravan of Death - in which thousands of people were subjected to torture, extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearance. He never attended any judicial hearings in any Chilean court.

Indigenous people

There were reports of ill-treatment of members of the Mapuche Indigenous group. In May, a number of Mapuche detainees staged hunger strikes in protest at the unfair application of anti-terrorist laws.

• In July, uniformed police officers (carabineros) raided the Indigenous Mapuche community of Temucuicui in Ercilla, Malleco Province. The police claimed that they were searching for stolen animals, but the community denied that stolen animals were being held on community land. Police reportedly fired tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition at members of the community, who were unarmed. Several people were injured and a number of homes destroyed. Children were affected by the tear gas and several escaped to nearby hills. Women and children were ill-treated. The community had been subjected to similar police actions earlier in the year. At the end of the year, no investigation was known to have been initiated into the July raid.

• In December, police reportedly fired on Temucuicui Mapuche individuals who were collecting their salaries in the city of Ercilla, IX Region. Up to six civilians were believed to have been injured, including a number of children.

Demonstrations

Secondary-school students demonstrated and went on strike in May, June and October to demand a complete overhaul of the education system and the end of disparities between public and private schools. There were clashes with the police and hundreds of people were briefly detained. There were reports of excessive use of force by police against student demonstrators and journalists.

Prison conditions

There were reports of harsh conditions, overcrowding, lack of medical attention, ill-treatment and corruption by prison guards. The case of 80 detainees in Santiago Prison who were forced to sleep in the open was considered by the Santiago Appeals Court in June. A protection request was submitted on behalf of these men by lawyers working for the Paternitas Foundation, a non-governmental organization.

Amnesty Law

In September the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled that the application of the amnesty provisions of the 1978 Amnesty Law were not admissible and such provisions could not be applied to crimes against humanity. The judgment related to the case of Luis Alfredo Almonacid Arellano who was arrested and shot by police in September 1973. By the end of the year President Bachelet had made no decision on whether the Amnesty Law should be annulled, repealed or amended by new legislation which would limit its application.

AI country reports/visits

Reports

• Peru/Chile: 20,000 signatures collected as a result of the international campaign on the Fujimori case (AI Index: AMR 46/008/2006)

• Chile: Medical Concern (AI Index: AMR 22/002/2006)

• Chile: Death of Pinochet is not the end of the story (AI Index: AMR 22/004/2006)

Web pages about "Chile"

Video: Worldwide actions to close Guantánamo

The world shouts 'Close Guantánamo'

US military chief wants to close Guantánamo

What you can still do

Chile - Amnesty International Report 2008

Background

Impunity – justice for past violations

Discrimination – Indigenous rights

Violence against women

Amnesty International reports

Human Rights Council elections 2008 - Chile

Recent Amnesty International statements and reports:

General

Rights of indigenous people

Prosecution of human rights abuses committed under the regime

Fujimory Case

Ratification of International Treaties

Compliance with Reporting Obligations

Cooperation with the Special Procedures

Chile - Amnesty International Report 2007

Background

Indigenous people

Demonstrations

Prison conditions

Amnesty Law

AI country reports/visits

Reports