According to Emol, Republican Party Deputy Javiera Rodríguez said President José Antonio Kast should have pardoned police officers convicted over events during the social unrest on March 11. Her remarks come on another anniversary of October 18, as libertarians press the government to grant those pardons.
"I think the President should have granted pardons on March 11," the lawmaker said. March 11 is the date Kast took office. For Rodríguez, choosing a symbolic date has little value. "Since people's freedom is at stake, I think the sooner, the better," she said.
Rodríguez is one of the leading advocates of these pardons. In August, she launched the "Imprisoned for Serving" initiative, which seeks to collect signatures to pardon "police officers and military personnel who defended Chile on October 18," according to its website.
The social unrest began on October 18, 2019, with a wave of mass protests that lasted for months. During that period, uniformed personnel were prosecuted and convicted for their actions at demonstrations. Emol does not specify how many are currently serving sentences.
The deputy acknowledged that the decision is not in Congress's hands. "You can apply pressure, but it is not a decision that rests with me or another lawmaker. So all we can do is wait, a long wait," she said.
Regarding the legislative route, she pointed to a general pardon proposal promoted by senators from her political camp. She explained that the initiative is not before any committee in the Chamber of Deputies. "I hope the senators take it up, put it on the agenda and discuss it," she said.
Rodríguez also addressed the President directly. "He made a promise to the families. He never committed to any deadline, but he does not know the urgency and desperation of the families," she said.
The pressure clashes with the government's position. Justice Minister Rabat had already said that pardon requests would be reviewed case by case and without deadlines, despite insistence from Republicans and libertarians. For now, the general pardon is still waiting for the Senate to put it on the agenda.
