Attorney Nelson Caucoto has warned that the prosecution of crimes against humanity in Chile could be vulnerable under the current political landscape. As reported by elmostrador.cl, Caucotto expressed deep concern regarding the continuity of state-led programs to search for the disappeared, as well as the integrity of human rights jurisprudence.
Caucoto, who began his work with the Vicaria de la Solidaridad in 1976, expressed doubts about the opposition's commitment to locating victims. “I have to ask myself: will Kast want to find anyone? I can't imagine Kast saying, ‘Look, we have found a detainee who was disappeared',” the jurist noted.
The attorney also warned of potential shifts in the country's judicial structure. Caucoto pointed out that vacancies left in the Supreme Court by the current administration could be filled by judges with anti-human rights stances, which could dismantle the legal doctrine established by the Second Criminal Chamber.
Risk of impunity and legislative changes
According to the attorney, justice has arrived decades too late, allowing many defendants to face trial only in their advanced age. “The perpetrators of these crimes must pay for them. This isn't about revenge; it's about them being held accountable for the crimes they committed,” Caucoto stated.
He also focused on the potential release of convicts in Punta Peuco through new legislation. Specifically, he cited Senator Chahuán's initiative as a threat to the application of justice in cases of permanent kidnapping.
Furthermore, Caucoto criticized José Antonio Kast's statements regarding the validity of previous judicial proceedings. The attorney refuted doubts about the legality of these sentences, reminding that they have been upheld by lower courts, the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court, almost always by unanimous decision.
Finally, the attorney called for the Search Plan to remain a permanent state commitment. He warned that dismantling the Human Rights Program would directly impact the momentum of efforts to locate victims across the country.
