PUBLIC STATEMENT

March 20, 2009

While the country reacts to the border dispute ignited by Peru, our Parliament, and the Senate in particular, has been the scene of an event that will be remembered as a shameful episode of our recent history.

Last March 17 with nine votes opposing and two in favor the Senate rejected a bill, without any discussion whatsoever, that would have declared genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes not subject to amnesty or statues of limitation.

Predictably, political groups that had close involvement with the military dictatorship opposed the measure, revealing the strong ties that continue to bind them to that regime. May citizens remember the names of those senators who disguise themselves as democrats but underneath are the same individuals who enthusiastically supported or participated in the dictatorship. Allamand, Bianchi, Espina, Garcia, Horvath, Larrain, Novoa, Perez and Procurica. No variation in their conduct on such issues can be expected.

At the same time, we note the scandalous absence of senators who one thought would support this initiative, especially, in light of the frequency with which the subject of human rights is mentioned in their speeches. Only two of them were present in the Senate chamber when it came time to vote.

Inexcusable negligence? Lack of interest? How to explain it?

Citizens and public opinion will judge their conduct.

Lastly, we must point out that, inexplicably, the news media have ignored this event completely.

FASIC Legal Staff

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