Original article: «Un senador no debiera cuestionar así los fallos judiciales»: Director de Amnistía Internacional criticó dichos de Arturo Squella sobre «condenas injustas» por el Estallido

Amnesty International Director Critiques Senator Squella’s Remarks on «Unjust Sentences» Relating to the Social Unrest

The lawyer and director of Amnesty International in Chile, Rodrigo Bustos, publicly criticized Senator Arturo Squella, president of the Republican Party, for his comments regarding alleged «unjust sentences» imposed on police and military personnel in connection with the social unrest that erupted in October 2019.

In a statement shared on social media, Bustos emphasized that it is «very serious» for Squella to speak so lightly about ‘unjust sentences’ concerning police and military actions during the social uprising. He argued that this is particularly troubling since Squella leads «the party of the President of the Republic, and because a senator should not question judicial decisions made after thorough investigations and rulings by the courts.»

Bustos further questioned Squella’s awareness of the four rulings regarding sexual violence, asking: «Does Senator Squella know about the four convictions for sexual violence? What is unjust about sentences issued in cases where women were forced to undress and perform squats?»

He pointed out, «There are two cases of mutilation witnessed by 14 and 15-year-old girls, alongside another case where a group of Carabineros brutally beat a person who became paralyzed for life. And many more, all documented,» he added.

«The courts did not convict Carabineros or military personnel arbitrarily. They are not heroes. They did not serve their country through the horrific acts they committed. They deviated from the law and committed serious crimes,» Bustos emphasized.

Finally, the Amnesty International representative reiterated that «in the face of this, there is no room for pardons, amnesties, or tributes. What is required is justice and the enforcement of the court sentences.»

Senator Campillai: «Abolish Presidential Pardon Powers»

In Congress, Squella’s statements also prompted a response. One such response came from Senator Fabiola Campillai, who said: «Let’s speak plainly. Here, the libertarians and republicans do not care about democracy or the state; they are simply using a new commemoration of the social protests from millions during the unrest to open the door once again to release criminals from prisons.»

«And they do this at a time when the government is unable to respond to demands regarding security, the fight against organized crime, and drug trafficking,» the legislator asserted.

In this context, Campillai proposed «to open the discussion towards eliminating presidential pardon powers, while improving existing mechanisms, but with effective instances to listen to the victims, free from political pressures. Let’s not disguise impunity as humanity,» the parliamentarian emphasized.

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