Opposition Rejects Pardons for Crimes Against Humanity as Government Reviews Over 100 Requests

Original article: “Crímenes de lesa humanidad, por ningún motivo”: oposición rechaza indultos mientras Gobierno revisa más de 100 solicitudes

«Crimes against humanity should never be pardoned,» stated Senator Iván Flores (DC), expressing his opposition to the possibility of President José Antonio Kast granting pardons to those convicted of human rights violations. This follows Justice Minister Fernando Rabat announcing that his department is reviewing more than 100 applications, the majority submitted by ex-military personnel imprisoned for offenses committed during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet.

In an interview with T13’s «Mesa Central,» Rabat detailed, «The requests are numerous, over 100. Folders are being organized, and there is a significant number on my desk for analysis as well.» He emphasized that the requests mainly pertain to incidents that occurred in 1973.

Meanwhile, during an interview with Radio Agricultura, Kast was asked about the matter and indicated that his administration is reviewing requests «on a case-by-case basis,» although he refrained from committing to any timelines or addressing pressure from the right-wing, particularly from the National Libertarian Party (PNL), which has insisted on the pardons for military personnel convicted of human rights violations during Pinochet’s regime, as well as for members of the Armed Forces, Carabineros, and the Investigative Police facing legal actions or actual convictions for their conduct during the 2019 social unrest.

At the beginning of September, the PNL expressed its frustration over the slow pace of the pardon process while pressing forward with a general pardon project submitted to Congress.

«We believe there is a delay in resolving specific pardon cases for all those convicted for serving their country in the context of October 18, and for those who, out of humanity, should also be serving their sentences at home,» stated PNL Vice President and Representative Hans Marowski, referring to state agents who committed human rights violations during the dictatorship.

However, during the interview, Kast clarified that a significant factor in the decision will be the health status of those convicted, irrespective of the severity of the crimes.

«The major discussion occurs in cases of prisoners with terminal illnesses, as various jurists from different backgrounds have indicated that it is inappropriate for a person to die in prison… they argue that the sentence should remain set while the person is still conscious. But that, again, I emphasize, will be resolved on a case-by-case basis without any general norms,» he noted, as reported by Diario U. de Chile.

The president explained that the presidential power to grant pardons should be exercised with individual analysis. «That is the correct approach. When there is a pardon request from an individual, it is essential to evaluate the background information,» Kast said on Radio Agricultura.

According to the president, the power to grant pardons does not change judicial decisions. «One does not alter the judicial resolution but rather utilizes a power that the president still holds today, which has not been revoked,» he emphasized.

«Crimes Against Humanity Should Never be Pardoned»

In response to these statements, the opposition expressed its total rejection of the potential pardons. In this regard, the General Secretary of the Communist Party (PC), Bárbara Figueroa, argued that should this measure be applied, the state would be renouncing «a history that we have built as a country.»

She recalled that «the validity of the Rettig Report, the Valech Commission, and the Search Plan have been long processes of reconstruction that have come at the cost of many efforts by organizations and the families of the disappeared and those executed and tortured,» she stated.

Furthermore, Figueroa questioned what the priorities of Kast’s administration are.

«Is the President trying to address the National Libertarian Party regarding pardons promised during the campaign, or is he finally going to take responsibility for discussing the Budget Law and stop cutting funding to various ministries?» she indicated, according to the cited media outlet.

Similarly, Senator Iván Flores (DC) recalled that during the presidential campaign, Kast stated that «pardons were not included in his program» and rejected arguments regarding the health condition of the convicted and humanitarian reasons that might support the granting of these benefits.

In his view, «it is conceivable to think that a person who committed an offense could be pardoned, based on humanitarian considerations or other reasons; but when it pertains to individuals who persecuted, tortured, and murdered with full awareness of the harm they were causing, the truth is no. Crimes against humanity should never be pardoned.»

It is noteworthy that according to the latest edition of the Criteria Agenda, dated September 13, 2026, 59% of the population opposes the granting of pardons to military personnel convicted of human rights violations during the dictatorship.

Additionally, 52% reported that they are strongly disagreeing or disagreeing with pardons being granted even if the individuals suffer from terminal illnesses.