Facebook icon
Twitter icon
e-mail icon

Pinochet-era student attack case reopened

A Chilean judge has reopened a case investigating an attack on two students during a demonstration against the Pinochet-regime in 1986.

Seven former military officers are being questioned about their involvement in the attack, which saw 19-year-old Rodrigo Rojas and 18-year-old Carmen Quintana doused in petrol and set on fire by soldiers, with Rodrigo dying days after, while Carmen survived severe burn injuries.

The case was reopened after testimony provided by a military conscript, who broke the army's pact of silence on the prominent case.

The conscript, Fernando Guzman, changed his previous evidence, saying he and his family were threatened to maintain silence.

Guzman said the officers intentionally set the two teenagers on fire before abandoning them in the ditch 20km (12 miles) outside the Chilean capital, Santiago.

Survivor Carmen Quintana, who is now a scientific attaché at the Chilean embassy in Canada, said: "The truth has come late, and I hope that justice comes too. I congratulate this former conscript for his bravery, and for finding the courage to tell the truth."

Rodrigo Rojas's aunt, Amande de Negri told Chilean TV: "That someone would break the silence is something we always hoped for, and finally it happened."

Chilean generals jailed for torture of president's father (22 November 2014)

We need your support

Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.

Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view

We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.

For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.