Victims Seek Justice from Chilean Government
In a significant legal development in Santiago, Chile, a lawsuit filed in the Third Civil Court is demanding a total of $200 million pesos in compensation for two victims of torture, Patricio Rivera and Ramón Pavez. This lawsuit against the Chilean state arises from the premature release of their torturer, Manuel Cabezas Pérez, who was granted a reduction in his sentence by Justice Minister Fernando Rabat. The victims contend that this early release has inflicted new moral damages distinct from the suffering they endured during the tortures in 1973.
Manuel Cabezas Pérez, a former sub-official of the Chilean Air Force, subjected Rivera and Pavez to horrific abuse following the military coup that deposed President Salvador Allende. The justice minister's decision to reduce Cabezas' sentence by eight months for good behavior has raised serious concerns regarding the rights of the victims and the state’s responsibility in this matter. Notably, Cabezas has publicly expressed gratitude for this clemency, denying any torture involvement despite judicial findings affirming his guilt.
Details of the Tortures
Patricio Rivera, who was employed by Madeco and actively involved in the Cordón San Miguel, was arrested on the night of September 19, 1973, by Carabineros. His ordeal began with a mock execution and escalated as he was transferred to the infamous El Bosque Air Base, a site notorious for detention and interrogation practices. There, Rivera was subjected to electric shocks to his genitals and tongue, alongside further mock executions. His captors even branded him with the symbol of the Unidad Popular using a yatagán, as established by subsequent judicial investigations. After enduring ten days of torture, Rivera was taken to the National Stadium, where he faced more torment before being convicted by a military council and expelled from Chile.
Similarly, Ramón Pavez was arrested on October 18, 1973, in downtown Santiago. Following his detention, he experienced severe physical abuse and interrogation tactics at the Ministry of Defense before being moved to the same El Bosque base as Rivera. There, he was stripped and subjected to electric shocks during questioning, leaving him unconscious. His harrowing journey continued through various detention facilities, including the National Stadium and the Penitentiary, from which he was eventually liberated in September 1974. Pavez has since relocated to France, where he continues to live.
Both Rivera and Pavez survived the tortures inflicted upon them, and the judicial system has recognized the culpability of Cabezas in their suffering. In December 2017, Judge Mario Carroza convicted Cabezas and others for their roles in the tortures. In 2018, the Santiago Court of Appeals classified the acts as torture resulting in serious injuries, categorizing them as crimes against humanity, and increased Cabezas' sentence to five years and one day in prison. This sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court on November 10, 2021. Additionally, the state was ordered to pay each victim $40 million pesos in compensation for the moral damages resulting from their torture experiences.
As reported by elmostrador.cl.
