The director of the National Institute of Human Rights (INDH), Consuelo Contreras, reported that, yesterday, March 21, 2024, officials from the La Araucanía Region became aware of new information regarding a complaint received during the social crisis, which contains inconsistencies with the original testimony from October 23, 2019.
Faced with this situation, the INDH – adhering to its legal mandate – adopted the following measures: it presented a document to the courts to withdraw the complaint; filed a complaint so that the Public Ministry determines the responsibilities of the complainant; and informed the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security to adopt the measures it deems appropriate.
The victim’s original testimony led to the filing of a complaint in court for the crime of illegitimate coercion. Then, at the request of the complainant, the INDH Council accredited him as a victim of human rights violations to request a grace pension from the government. This request was accepted at the time by the corresponding authority and the person currently receives a pension.
The new information recently revealed exposes the inconsistency of the original complaint, since the injuries that the complainant attributed to State agents correspond to the effects of a traffic accident that occurred days before the complaint was filed, as proven in an interview conducted to our officials on March 21, 2024.
“The INDH categorically condemns this transgression of public faith, and that it also violates the good faith with which our institution acts to welcome people who report violations of their rights in our territory. Trust and truth are attributes to which everyone must contribute,” the organization declared.
The director of the INDH hopes that Justice will clarify this situation as soon as possible, and that the false testimony given to the institute “does not affect the processes of justice, truth, reparation and non-repetition of the violations of human rights that occurred in the social crisis.” .