adminThe body representing judges in Chile has issued a long-awaited apology for the actions of its members under military rule in the 1970s and 1980s.It must be said and recognised clearly and completely: the court system and especially the Supreme Court at that time, failed in their roles as safeguards of basic human rights
In a statement on Wednesday, it said that the judiciary at the time had abandoned its role as protector of basic rights.
“To those who were victims of state abuse …the time has come to ask for the forgiveness of victims … and of Chilean society,” said the Chilean Judges’ Association.
More than 3,000 people were killed under the rule of General Augusto Pinochet between 1973 and 1990.
The statement comes a week before the 40th anniversary of the coup that brought General Pinochet to power. It said the judges had ignored the plight of victims who had demanded their intervention.
“It must be said and recognised clearly and completely: the court system and especially the Supreme Court at that time, failed in their roles as safeguards of basic human rights, and to protest those who were victims of state abuse,” the judges said.
Chilean courts rejected about 5,000 cases seeking help on locating missing loved ones abducted or killed by the authorities, saying they had no information about their fate. — AP
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