Amnesty International recently praised the indictment of three senior commanders of Carabineros de Chile, charged for their alleged involvement in the disproportionate and unlawful response to mass protests in Chile in late 2019. Carabineros de Chile, the nation’s law enforcement responsible for maintaining public order and enforcing laws, has been under scrutiny for quite some time in relation to these events.
The London-based non-governmental organization provided crucial background information during the investigation into widespread violations of physical integrity rights during the October 18 to November 30, 2019, Chilean protests. The report suggests that Carabineros commanders, including the current General Director and the then-Director of Order and Security, implemented a strategy to suppress protests using shotguns loaded with potentially lethal ammunition. This led to over 400 eye injuries among thousands of other protest-related injuries.
Amnesty International’s report underscored the issue of command responsibility, and highlighted a pervasive trend of police violence during times of social unrest. The organization’s Executive Director for Chile, Rodrigo Bustos, stated that the indictment of the commanders is a necessary step forward in battling years of entrenched impunity for high-ranking officials and in securing justice for the thousands of victims of police brutality.
The North Central Metropolitan Prosecutor’s Office has requested the Seventh Court of Guarantee in Santiago to formalize charges against Carabineros General Director Ricardo Yáñez Reveco, his predecessor Mario Rozas Córdova and former Deputy Director Diego Olate Pinares. They face charges related to omissive conduct, coercion, and homicide linked to their roles during the 2019 social unrest.
In light of this development, President Gabriel Boric expressed his “absolute support” for the Carabineros’ General Director in a phone call, according to Yáñez’s lawyer, Jorge Martínez. The lawyer sees the formalization as an opportunity for the specifics of the accusations against Yáñez to be made clear, particularly concerning his command responsibility during the protests.
Despite the upcoming trial, Yáñez plans to retire on November 14. Minister of Justice Luis Cordero commented on his case, stating there is no legal obstacle preventing him from remaining in his position until retirement. According to Cordero, the formalization functions as a way for the Public Prosecutor’s Office to communicate with an individual under investigation.
Regarding Boric’s alleged show of support for Yáñez, Cordero stated that he was unaware of such an incident, deeming it inappropriate for a lawyer to comment on private conversations. He emphasized that Yáñez should fulfill his constitutional and legal duty as long as he holds the position at Carabineros de Chile.