|  ElCiudadano.cl |  Noticias

El Ciudadano

Original article: “Parece no asumir la existencia de un Estado de Derecho”: director de Amnistía Chile encara a Squella por pedir el fin del INDH

Amnesty International Chile Director Challenges Squella on Calls to Abolish INDH, Citing Rule of Law

The Executive Director of Amnesty International (AI) Chile, Rodrigo Bustos Bottai, confronted the President of the Republican Party, Arturo Squella, for formally requesting the government of José Antonio Kast to abolish the National Institute of Human Rights (INDH), stating that «it seems he does not acknowledge the existence of a Rule of Law«.

The far-right party’s deputies and senators made this request after officials from the organization visited a suspect in the homicide of sub-official Marcos Cosme, who was in the Base Hospital of Valdivia.

The institution emphasized that they are legally obligated to verify the integrity of individuals under the custody, care, or protection of the State, «regardless of who they are or the reason for their situation».

However, Squella, who spearheaded the offensive, accused the INDH of having an «ideological bias» against Carabineros and suggested that their «closure is the only viable path».

In response to his remarks, Rodrigo Bustos pointed out that the Republican senator «seems to fail to recognize the existence of a Rule of Law with checks and balances».

He also questioned the legislator for attacking the General Comptroller’s Office (CGR) for a report concluding that the former Security Minister, Trinidad Steinert, violated her duty of abstention by requesting information from the PDI about officials linked to an ongoing criminal investigation, as well as accusing the Constitutional Court (TC) of acting with an “ideological bias” for a ruling declaring unconstitutional several provisions of the controversial Protected Schools bill.

In a message posted on his social media, AI’s executive director warned that as part of his offensive, now Squella is targeting the INDH, requesting its elimination by Kast’s administration.

«Two weeks ago, Senator Squella questioned an «excess» of the General Comptroller for not sharing her ruling regarding Minister Trinidad Steiner. He then accused the Constitutional Court of having an «ideological bias» because he disagreed with its decision. Now he urges the government to eliminate the INDH«, stated the lawyer and academic specialized in Constitutional Law and Human Rights.

The also lawyer, who earned his degree in Legal Sciences from the University of Chile and holds a PhD in Law from the University of Salamanca, warned that such an offensive against institutional checks resembles authoritarian practices observed in other countries in Latin America.

«Senator Squella’s path seems to align with those of other governments in the region that have adopted various authoritarian practices to achieve their ends,» he affirmed.

La entrada Amnesty International Chile Director Challenges Squella on Calls to Abolish INDH, Citing Rule of Law se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.