Chilean hunger strike for truth and justice

Santiago, August 18, at 10.30am, in the headquarters of Izquierda 
Cristiana (Christian Left) an indefinite Hunger Strike began, organised by 
young sons and daughters of Detained, Disappeared and Executed for 
Political reasons. Inspired by the memory of Luciano Carrasco, son of the 
murdered journalist Josi Carrasco, who decided to take his own life in 
November of last year, Fahra Neghme, Pablo Villagra and Alberto Rodrmguez 
have began this Hunger Strike as a means of protest and to put across an 
alternative to the policies of impunity sponsored by the government of 
Ricardo Lagos.

The following statement was issued that morning:

Some 30 years after the Military coup, the Right, the governing coalition 
and the high command of the Armed Forces have achieved a historic political 
agreement that aims to enshrine impunity in Chile.

None of the points included in the proposal presented by the Government, 
and which is today applauded by the murderers, are steps that could allow 
an advance down the path of justice in our country.

They offer alternatives that allow those who participated in these crimes 
to obtain full impunity in exchange for information and the reduction of 
sentences of those already tried for their participation in those crimes.

That this once more mocks, like the Discussion Group before it, the Judges 
who today honourably carry out their functions, the relatives of the 
victims, and society as a whole.

In Chile, the great majority of those responsible for the assassinations, 
torture and disappearances carried out during the dictatorship walk the 
streets free or are held in luxurious facilities provided by the army.

We value the actions taken by some Ministers of the Court and Judges in 
human rights cases. Nevertheless, we consider it insufficient, because for 
Justice to act there needs to be more Judges assigned to these cases and 
increased numbers among the investigating body.

We feel that the country, as well as repudiating the bloody events suffered 
by many Chileans, must penalise, both socially and with the law, all those 
directly responsible for these crimes, their accomplices, and those who 
concealed them.

It is the only way that our children and future generations can live safe 
in the knowledge that, in Chile, the wrongs we have unjustly endured will 
never again be committed by either political or military authorities.

Tired of lies, promises and false expectations, and conscious that there is 
no possible compensation because nothing nor anybody can ever give us back 
our family members and Chile the compatriots lost, we declare ourselves in 
an indefinite hunger strike so that the country and the world know that, in 
Chile, political authorities refuse to acknowledge these offences as crimes 
against humanity that as such do not expire and can't be amnestied, and in 
doing so violates all international Treaties in existence since the Second 
World War.

We call on all people and social organisations who believe in the right to 
live in a just and democratic country to show their solidarity in support 
of justice.

We, the relatives of the victims, are prepared to continue to struggle and 
will not abandon this hunger strike until we see Chile advance towards 
justice. But this great task is for all of us, for today more than ever 
silence is on the side of impunity.

BECAUSE WE'RE ALIVE, WE WON'T FORGET NOR FORGIVE

Alexandra Benado, Ivan Carrasco, Natalia Chanfreau, Yuri Gaona, Fahra 
Nehgme, Juan Josi Parada, Michelle Retamal, Alberto Rodrmguez, Daniela 
Taberna, Carolina Valdes, Barbara Vergara, Pablo Villagra, Eduardo Ziede, 
Liliana Salazar.

* * *

Support the hunger strike

Support the struggle for Justice and Truth of those striking by sending 
letters and statements of solidarity to: 
huelgalucianocarrasco@correo.nodo50.org

redchilena@bigpond.com

If you want to participate in the Campaign to support this hunger strike 
and the Struggle against 30 years of Impunity in Chile; please contact the 
Chilean Popular and Indigenous Network

Ph: 0401 558373, 0407 331436, (03) 9481 2273
chilenetwork@optusnet.com.au and
redchilena@bigpond.com