The importance of the deportation of Pedro Barrientos in the context of human rights and justice

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The return of Pedro Barrientos, the former Chilean military officer involved in the murder of singer-songwriter Víctor Jara in 1973, marks a milestone in the search for justice and respect for human rights in Chile. The Government Minister Spokesperson, Camila Vallejo, has expressed the relevance of this moment, although with the regret that Joan Jara is not present to witness it.

“We would have liked Joan Jara to be alive by now, I think the entire country (would have liked it),” said Minister Vallejo. This return represents significant progress in the fight for justice regarding a brutal crime that has required years of fight and resistance.

Despite questions about the delay in starting this path to justice, the minister stressed that “better late than never.” The arrival of Barrientos, after 50 years since Víctor Jara’s crime, is a significant step to confront the past and move towards justice, Vallejo stated.

Barrientos’ deportation from the United States, where he was found guilty of Jara’s murder, is considered a key moment. The minister highlighted the importance of this former military man returning to Chile to face justice, underlining the need to continue moving forward so that he is tried and sentenced under the standards of international law.

The special protocol for the transfer of people involved in crimes of high public connotation is already in place to guarantee the safety of Barrientos’ transfer upon his arrival in the country. The former uniformed man will be handed over to the Army Administrative Command and will subsequently be held in preventive detention in the Military Police Battalion in Peñalolén.

Lawyer Nelson Caucoto, who is handling the case for the murder of Víctor Jara, pointed out that Barrientos will be placed under preventive detention by virtue of an international arrest and capture order. He highlighted that this marks the beginning of the final stage of the trial for a crime that occurred five decades ago, in the middle of the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship.

Barrientos’ arrival in Chile represents a firm step towards justice and accountability for crimes against humanity. It is a reminder that, despite the time that has passed, the search for truth and justice must never cease.