Chilean political prisoners rescued

January 29, 1997
Issue 

Chilean political prisoners rescued

By Lara Pullin

The mass media in Chile have called it "the escape of the century". On December 30, after a daring helicopter flight by a kidnapped police officer, activists armed with M-16s landed in the grounds of the a maximum security political prison in Santiago to liberate four leaders of the Manuel Rodriguez Patriotic Front.

The front organised two previous successful liberations of prisoners, in January 1990 and October 1992.

Appalling treatment is now being meted out to the remaining political prisoners. A series of letters from the political prisoners in the maximum security jail dated January 6 appeal to the Chilean public to campaign for their humane treatment as conditions inside the jails worsen.

Since the escape, all visiting rights have been revoked, including visits from children or family members. All activities within the jail have been suspended, with prisoners confined to their tiny uncomfortable cells all day every day. Minimal or no food has been provided.

Five prisoners have been severely beaten, and the prisoners writing from the jail are unaware where these five have been taken, or even whether they are dead or alive.

Due to this intolerable situation, the prisoners have resorted to a hunger strike in addition to their public appeals.

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