Human Lives Human Rights: The North Central Regional Prosecutor’s Office in Chile has filed indictments against three current and former senior commanders of Carabineros de Chile, implicating them in the alleged disproportionate and unlawful response to mass protests that shook the nation in late 2019.
The indictment targets current Director General Ricardo Yáñez, former Director General Mario Rozas, and retired General Diego Olate, holding them accountable for their roles as senior commanders during the turbulent period of protests. This move is hailed by rights groups as a crucial step towards achieving justice for the widespread human rights violations committed during the protests.
“The indictment of Ricardo Yáñez and other senior Carabineros commanders marks a pivotal moment in Chile’s quest for accountability, challenging the entrenched culture of impunity that has persisted for decades. Justice demands not only holding trigger-pullers accountable but also those who gave orders or failed to prevent grave human rights violations.”
“The decision to indict these commanders, implicated in the acceptance of thousands of injuries and disabilities as a means to quell protests, holds the promise of ushering in a new era in Chile’s fight against impunity. We anticipate that the indictment hearings will be swiftly followed by prosecutions and trials, ensuring due process and fair proceedings that uphold the rights of victims to truth, justice, reparations, and non-repetition.”
