PART THREE
Chapter One (B)

September through December 1973 (continued)

2. HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS COMMITTED BY PRIVATE CITIZENS FOR POLITICAL REASONS
   
   
   1. OVERVIEW
      
      In this section the Commission will deal with human rights violations committed by private citizens for political reasons, as well as deaths occurring as a result of political violence. Those killed were primarily government forces. These deaths were the result of armed clashes which occurred during the first few days after the military intervention and also of attacks perpetrated in that context of violence.
      
      As was explained in the overview to the previous section, the country witnessed numerous armed clashes at the outset of this period. A state of war was in effect of course. La Moneda Palace was now in the hands of the armed forces, and it was being fired upon from neighboring public buildings. While shooting was taking place around La Moneda, the new order was already becoming installed everywhere, and all those persons who had beeen part of the previous government or had supported it were being brought under control.
      
      According to information gathered by the Commission, the armed forces and security forces faced no organized rebel troops. Nevertheless, as has been mentioned, there was some armed resistance from groups who supported the previous government. Snipers were operating near La Moneda. In ordinary neighborhoods there were only isolated responses as any sites of military significance were being occupied. None of this resistance lasted very long.
      
      This climate of violent confrontation should be understood in light of the legitimacy that each side was claiming as its own. Without taking a stand on this matter, this report views each side's defenders from that standpoint from which each believed it was operating: obeying either the established government or what had been the established government within the previous legal framework. Hence, whatever their position in the struggle, the report regards them as having been killed in armed clashes or as victims of the situation of political violence.
      
      Thirty members of the armed forces and security forces were killed during the period in question. Fifteen belonged to the armed forces, fourteen to the police, and one to the investigative police. Most of the victims were killed on September 11 and immediately thereafter. Twenty-four were killed in the Metropolitan Region, three in Tarapacá, one in Maule, one in Bío Bío, and one in Los Lagos. We should note that most of these victims were young; their average age was only 26.
      
      Many were killed by shots by unknown persons shooting at official forces on guard duty or protecting public property; others died from shots fired by other official forces in the confusion of this atmosphere of confrontation. In a single isolated instance, two officers were shot and killed by one of their subordinates who was opposed to the military seizure of power. The rest were killed in armed clashes with armed civilians. Most of the deaths in these armed clashes took place on September 11 itself in the Metropolitan Region: four soldiers were killed in the siege on La Moneda Palace; six police officers were killed in La Legua shantytown, and three police were killed in a raid on the Indumet factory.
      
      The institutions in which these men served honor their memory. We hope that our whole society will remember them among the victims of a painful situation that we must not repeat.
      
      
   2. CASES
      
      On September 11, 1973, there were a number of armed clashes and incidents of political violence in which members of the armed forces and security forces were killed. We will examine each case, organizing them around the place where the events took place.
      
      La Moneda Palace
      

      This report has already described events inside La Moneda palace and its environs. In any case, it should be borne in mind that military forces stationed around the seat of government and snipers in nearby buildings who were loyal to the previous regime were shooting at each other. Several army members were killed in this intense exchange of fire.
      
      The following members of the army were killed at La Moneda Palace and the surrounding area on September 11, 1973.
      
      Luis CASTILLO ASTORGA, 20, soldier first class. Luis Castillo was in the area around La Moneda, taking part in the siege, when he was hit in the torso by two bullets fired by unknown persons. He was taken to the Military Hospital in grave condition and died there early on the morning of September 12, 1973. The evidence examined makes it possible to conclude that:
      
      

      • He died of a bullet wound while on duty.
        
        
      • The situation on September 11 was one of widespread conflict.
        
        

      On these grounds, this Commission has come to the conviction that soldier first class Luis Castillo died a victim of the situation of political violence.
      
      Agustín Patricio LUNA BARRIOS, 22, second corporal. As Corporal Luna's company was moving toward La Moneda Palace, snipers shot and hit him in the neck. This took place at about 5:30 p.m.. The evidence indicates that he died as the result of a bullet wound received while on active duty and that on that day the situation around La Moneda Palace was one of general confrontation. Hence this Commission came to the conviction that Second Corporal Agustín Luna died as a result of the situation of political violence.
      
      Ramón Segundo TORO IBAÑEZ, 37, first sergeant. On September 11, Sergeant Ramón Toro was taking part in the siege around La Moneda Palace when a bullet fired by an unknown person hit him in the left parietal lobe. The evidence provided indicates that he died as a member of military units that were participating in the siege of the presidential palace and that a heavy exchange of fire took place between military units and supporters of the overthrown government. In view of this evidence, the Commission came to the conviction that the death of First Sergeant Ramón Toro was the result of the situation of political violence.
      
      Waldo NEEIL MORALES, 44, first sergeant. On September 11 Waldo Neeil was with a unit participating in the siege of La Moneda Palace. He was killed at the corner of Calle Nataniel and Calle Alonso Ovalle. The evidence it gathered enabled the Commission to conclude that he died while a member of the army forces that were laying siege to La Moneda and that violent confrontations were taking place there on that day. Hence, this Commission came to the conviction that First Sergeant Waldo Neeil died as a result of the situation of political violence.
      
      Likewise on September 11, 1973, a number of armed clashes between supporters of the previous government and members of the armed forces and security forces took place in different locations in Santiago.
      

      Indumet factory
      

      The following members of the police were killed in the raid on the Indumet factory on September 11, 1973:
      
      Esteban Manuel CIFUENTES CIFUENTES, 26, policeman,
      
      Fabriciano Nolberto GONZALEZ URZUA, 27, policeman,
      
      Raúl Arturo LUCERO AYALA, 20, policeman.
      
      Workers were inside the factory September 11, 1973. During the day people came to the factory, distributing weapons. The workers organized themselves in groups of ten to twelve and prepared to defend the factory. It was under those circumstances that the police arrived to conduct the raid.
      
      Fabriciano González, Raúl Lucero and Esteban Cifuentes were part of the squad from the Police Subofficials School who arrived at the Indumet factory that day. There was a sharp exchange of fire between the police and those inside. The policeman Raul Lucero was killed immediately and another policeman was wounded. When Fabriciano González attempted to rescue him, he was hit by a sniper from inside the factory. Gravely wounded, he was taken to the police hospital. On September 14, he died in the hospital of the very serious bullet wounds he received in the gun battle. Esteban Cifuentes was also very seriously wounded in the exchange of fire. He was close to death as he was taken to the police hospital and despite numerous attempts to save his life, he died from the wounds he had sustained on September 14, 1973.
      
      The evidence that the Commission gathered indicated that there was heavy fighting between police and supporters of the previous government and that three policemen died of bullet wounds while carrying out an operation in that factory. Hence, the Commission came to the conviction that police officers Fabriciano González, Raúl Lucero and Esteban Cifuentes died as a result of the situation of political violence.
      

      La Legua shantytown
      

      There were a number of armed clashes between police and residents of La Legua shantytown on September 11, 1973, and as a result the following policemen were killed:
      
      Juan Leopoldo HERRERA URRUTIA, 24, policeman,
      
      José Artidoro APABLAZA BREVIS, 30, policeman,
      
      José MALDONADO INOSTROZA, 25, policeman, and
      
      José Humberto WETLING WETLING, 46, a subofficer who was a medical assistant.
      
      Police officers Juan Herrera, José Apablaza and José Maldonado, all from the northern precinct of Santiago, were part of a group that went to La Legua September 11, 1973 in order to put down the skirmishes taking place between residents and police. Inside the shantytown they were hit by shots from supporters of the previous government. At that moment there was heavy fighting. These police died while they were being rushed to the police hospital. Wetling, the medical assistant and subofficer, arrived in a police ambulance in order to aid those who had been wounded inside La Legua and were being transported in an ambulance. While he was carrying out his work, he was hit by a bullet and died on the spot.
      
      In view of the evidence gathered, the Commission concluded that the police officers died of the bullet wounds they received while taking part in an operation in La Legua shantytown and that there were armed clashes between police and supporters of the overthrown government in that neighborhood. Hence, the Commission has come to the conviction that the police officers Juan Herrera, José Apablaza, José Wetling and José Maldonado were killed September 11, 1973 as a result of the situation of political violence. In none of these cases could those who fired the shots be identified.
      
      Also on September 11, officials at the Pedro Aguirre Cerda precinct were informed that armed clashes were taking place in La Legua and that they should come to the aid of the policemen who were there. Two police officers from that precinct were killed in that situation:
      
      Martín Segundo VEGA ANTIQUERA, 24, a policeman,
      
      Ramón Angel JIMENEZ CADIEUX 26, a lieutenant.
      
      At noon a busload of police set out under the command of Lieutenant Jiménez Cadieux. One of those on board was Vega Antiquera. En route to the shantytown an unidentified person shot at the bus and hit Lieutenant Jiménez in the head, killing him immediately. He was taken to the police hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The squadron continued toward the shantytown where a gun battle took place between the police and supporters of the previous government. Officer Vega was killed in the shooting. He was taken to the police hospital where he was dead on arrival.
      
      Since these police officers died of bullet wounds, and since armed clashes were taking place in La Legua between police and supporters of the previous government, the Commission came to the conclusion that police officer Martín Vega and Lieutenant Ramón Jiménez died as a result of the situation of political violence.
      

      Area around the Central Railroad Station
      

      Police officer Pedro Angel CARIAGA MATELUNA, 23, was killed in the Estación Central sector of Santiago. He was on guard duty at the Eleventh police station in Santiago, which is part of the southern precinct (now the Twenty-first station) when it was attacked from the Escuela de Artes y Oficios and a shootout took place. One of the shots from the attackers hit Pedro Cariaga, and thus he died as a result of the situation of political violence.
      

      Downtown Santiago
      

      Police officer Mario BARRIGA ARRIAGADA, 24, was killed in downtown Santiago. As he was directing traffic at the corner of Calle Ahumada and Calle Alameda at about 11:30 a.m., snipers firing from buildings near La Moneda Palace shot and killed him. The evidence makes it possible to conclude that he was carrying out his duty, that armed clashes were taking place in that area when he was killed, and that he died of gunshot wounds. This Commission therefore holds the conviction that police officer Barriga was killed as a result of political violence.
      
      Other confrontations elsewhere in the country on September 11 also led to casualties.
      

      Area of Paso Nevado-Maule Region
      

      At the Paso Nevado checkpoint in the province of Talca there was a shootout between police and a group of officials from the previous government who were trying to reach the Andes in several government vehicles. In this process Orlando ESPINOZA FAUNDEZ, 32, a policeman, was gravely wounded and subsequently died. A group of civilians, including the ex-governor of Talca, was heading toward the Andes. When they arrived at the Paso Nevado checkpoint, two policeman who were on duty there halted the group. In response they were attacked, and police officer Espinosa was fatally wounded.
      
      The civilians brought the police under control, took away their weapons and abducted the other policeman. They continued on their way until they came to the area of La Mina in the foothills, where they were halted by police and soldiers. One member of the group was killed at this point. The rest of the group was taken back to the city of Talca.
      
      The evidence gathered reveals that Espinosa died of a bullet wound and that a shootout took place there between police and a group of supporters of the previous government. On these grounds, this Commission came to the conviction that police officer Orlando Espinoza died as a result of the situation of political violence.
      

      Antofagasta
      

      Finally on September 11 two policemen died in the city of Antofagasta:
      
      Osvaldo Mario MUÑOZ CARRASCO, 53, a police major and superintendent of the Fourth station in Antofagasta, and
      
      José Héctor DAVILA RODRIGUEZ, 38, a captain and assistant superintendent in Antofagasta.
      
      They were taken prisoner that day by an on duty policeman from that same unit. Since the policeman supported the Socialist party, he was opposed to the military uprising, and therefore he shot his superiors with his weapon. On the basis of the evidence gathered, it may be concluded that these officers were killed by a policeman who was holding them under his control. This Commission has therefore come to the conviction that Major Osvaldo Muñoz and Captain José Dávila suffered a violation of their human rights.
      
      A number of people were also killed in armed clashes that took place after September 11, 1973.
      
      On September 12, Julio Hernán ANTILEF GAEZ, 19, a soldier who was fulfilling his obligation of military service, was killed. He was guarding the property of the National Telecommunications Company at Galería España when unknown persons shot and killed him. This Commission has not been able to determine the details. However, since he was attacked while he was guarding public property and in the overall context of the country at that time, this Commission holds the conviction that the soldier Julio Antilef died as a result of political violence.
      
      On September 12, José Misael CASTRO NIETO, 33, army second sergeant, was killed when he was hit by a gunfire from unknown persons. That day he was on guard duty outside the army auditing department building at Calle Carmen No. 339 in Santiago. Suddenly shots were fired at this building from a building nearby. The major told Second Sergeant Castro to go up to the roof of the building to locate the source of the shooting and to fire back with his own weapon. In doing so he was hit by a shot to the head fired by an unknown person. He was rushed to the police hospital but died there a few minutes after being admitted. These facts indicate that he died while protecting a military institution in the context of the country that has already been described. The foregoing led the Commission to the conviction that the death of Sergeant José Castro was the result of political violence.
      
      On September 13, 1973, two soldiers, David DIAZ QUEZADA, 19, and Carlos ACEVEDO ISAMIT, 19, both of whom had been drafted and who were guarding the Maipo Bridge in San Bernardo, were killed. They were guarding the bridge when they halted a passer-by who looked suspicious. They searched him and found a pistol which they took away. He had another revolver hidden in his clothes, however, and he shot and wounded both of them. They were rushed to the army hospital and died there the following day of the serious wounds they had received. The death certificate says they died September 14, 1973 at 9:30 a.m., and that the place of death was the Maipo Bridge, San Bernardo. In view of the fact that these soldiers were guarding public property and taking into account the overall circumstances of violence affecting the country at that time, this Commission holds the conviction that the two soldiers, David Díaz and Carlos Acevedo, died as a result of the political violence the country was experiencing in the days following September 11, 1973.
      
      On September 14, 1973, Jorge Patricio VENEGAS LABRA, 21, army second corporal, was killed. While he was patrolling the Maipo bridge in a privately owned truck, members of the Chilean Air Force mistook him for someone who was attacking them and shot and killed him. He was taken to the army hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. The death certificate states that he died September 14, at 9:30 a.m. and that the place of death was the Maipo bridge near San Bemardo. Since he was killed in the line of duty, and taking into account the overall situation of the country, this Commission has come to the conviction that Corporal Jorge Patricio Venegas died as a result of the political violence then taking place.
      
      On September 13, 1973, Juan Carlos MESIAS CARVALLO, 19, who was serving his obligatory military service, was killed. That day at the corner of Highway 5 and Ochagavía he was serving as part of the bodyguard for the head of the Catholic University of Chile television network, when unknown people shot and killed him. His body bore numerous bullet wounds. The evidence gathered makes it possible to state that he was on duty as a bodyguard when he came under a surprise attack. Therefore this Commission has come to the conviction that the soldier Juan Mesías was killed by politically motivated private citizens who killed him in an action that was a violation of human rights.
      
      On September 14, 1973, Juan Ramón ORDENES TORRES, 19, who had been drafted and belonged to the Third Company of the Cazadores Regiment, was killed. He died of shots fired by snipers that day while he was providing security for a military vehicle protecting a civilian truck which was picking up bread at Molino San Cristobal on Calle Exposición in Santiago. This soldier was in front of his vehicle, and the shots came from a factory across the street from Molino San Cristobal. Since Ordenes was guarding a vehicle that was being used to transport basic goods when he came under surprise attack, this Commission has come to the conviction that Juan Ramón Ordenes suffered a violation of his human rights at the hands of private citizens who were operating with political motivations.
      
      On September 15, 1973, Hugo Fernando YAÑEZ DURAN, 22, army second corporal and squad commander, was killed. An army patrol carried out a search of the University of Chile residence halls. In that action Yáñez was killed by a shot accidently fired from a rifle. The cause of death was a "bullet wound to the neck and head region." Thus it is established that he was killed while engaged in military operations. Since the Commission does not have the evidence that would enable it to know the exact circumstances under which he was killed, it has come to the conviction that Second Corporal Hugo Yáñez was killed as a result of the situation of political violence.
      
      On September 29, 1973, police detective Nelson Mario BUSTOS FARIAS, 24, was killed in the city of Concepción. In the course of an operation carried out by the investigative police, a soldier mistakenly shot at the detective, and he died on the spot. The evidence gathered indicates that he was performing his agency's normal work when he was mistakenly perceived by a member of the military. Therefore this Commission has come to the conviction that the police detective Nelson Bustos was killed as a result of the situation of political violence in the country.
      
      On October 23, 1973, Benjamín Alfredo JARAMILLO RUZ, 23, army second corporal, squad commander and a member of the Cazadores Regiment, was killed. The killing occurred during a shootout with an armed group in the mountain area of Las Vainas, in the municipality of Alquihue, province of Valdivia. In view of the fact that he was carrying out the normal duties of the armed forces, that while he was doing so there was a confrontation with an armed group and that he died as a result of the state of violence then existing, this Commission came to the conviction that Second Corporal Benjamín Alfredo Jaramillo was killed in an armed confrontation and was a victim of the situation of political violence.
      
      On October 1, 1973, Pedro Rolando PRADO ORTIZ, 19, who was serving his obligatory military service in Regiment No. 6-Tarapacá, was killed. While on guard duty that day at the Iquique cemetery gate he was hit under the left collarbone by a shot from an unknown sniper who took him by surprise and killed him while he was defenseless. In view of the fact that he was protecting public property and that he was killed by a surprise attack against which he had no defense, this Commission came to the conviction that soldier Pedro Prado died of an attack by private citizens who were operating for political reasons and thus violated his human rights.
      
      Finally on November 5, 1973, Hugo Enrique MORA NARVAEZ, 22, army second corporal, died at the Parral hospital, after being wounded by unknown snipers while he was on duty along the Southern Highway. The cause of death was a "perforating wound to the head." The evidence gathered indicates that at the moment when he was killed he was engaged in normal armed services duties and that he was hit by a gunshot without any chance to defend himself. Hence this Commission came to the conviction that Second Corporal Hugo Enrique Mora died of a shot fired by private citizens who were acting for political reasons and in violation of his human rights.
      
      

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Posted by USIP Library on: October 4 2002
Source: Report of the Chilean National Commission on Truth and Reconciliation
(Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, 1993), vol. I/II, Part Three, Chapter One (B), 453-461.
Note: Digitized and posted by permission of the University of Notre Dame Press, February 22, 2000.