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Chilean justice increases sentences for former military officers of the dictatorship

Photo: Curadas

December 31 |

The Chilean Supreme Court increased the sentences of nine retired military officers of the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, who participated in the so-called “Caravan of Death”, which occurred during the first weeks of the dictatorship and led to the murder of 15 supporters of Salvador Allende.

The increase in sentences includes Brigadier Pedro Espinoza and Colonel Juan Chiminelli, previously sentenced to five years in prison. Six other military officers also received sentence increases of between five and ten years.

Similarly, retired General Juan Emilio Cheyre, for his complicity in the case, was sentenced to five years in prison, but was given the benefit of serving his sentence on probation, in addition to still facing charges of embezzlement of public funds.

In addition, the Chilean justice system ordered the prosecutor’s office to pay the 32 relatives of the victims a reparation of 3.6 million dollars. This review of the case comes in the context of the 50th anniversary of the coup d’état.

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After the military coup of September 11, 1973, Augusto Pinochet ordered “to tour various cities in the country to accelerate the processes affecting political detainees and (…) proceed to execute them” and for this he appointed a military commission headed by General Sergio Arellano.

The commission toured the country by helicopter and in the region of La Serena 15 supporters of the overthrown Popular Unity Government were taken to a shooting range, where according to the court they were “executed without trial, by means of shots fired by Army personnel, some of them finished off with a coup de grace”.

International

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s Purse Stolen in D.C. Restaurant Heist

The purse of Kristi Noem, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, was stolen on Sunday night at a restaurant in Washington, D.C., Fox News Digital confirmed through several agency sources.

The handbag, taken by a white male wearing a mask, reportedly contained $3,000 in cash along with personal documents, including her passport, keys, driver’s license, and DHS badge, according to an agency spokesperson.

“Her entire family was in town, including her children and grandchildren. She was celebrating her retirement by treating them to dinner, activities, and Easter gifts,” the spokesperson added.

Crime continues to be a significant issue in the U.S. capital, particularly theft. However, violent crime reached its lowest level in 30 years last year, according to the Office of the Attorney General at the time.

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International

Pope Francis: The Quiet Architect Behind the U.S.-Cuba Thaw

When then-U.S. President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raúl Castro announced the reestablishment of diplomatic relations in December 2014—after decades of hostility—there was a third figure present in both speeches: Pope Francis.

This thaw in U.S.-Cuba relations—later reversed by Donald Trump—was the result of behind-the-scenes negotiations personally encouraged by Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88, just over a year after becoming head of the Catholic Church.

Upon learning the news of the breakthrough, the pontiff humbly stated, “This was made possible thanks to the ambassadors and to diplomacy,” which he called “a noble, very noble job.”

In 2015, months after the announcement, Raúl Castro visited the Vatican and met with the pope. Over time, Castro developed a fondness for Francis that he never had for his predecessors, Benedict XVI and John Paul II. “If the Pope continues talking like this, sooner or later I’ll start praying again and return to the Catholic Church—and I’m not joking,” said the younger Castro, who, like his brother Fidel (1926–2016), had been educated by Jesuits—the same order to which Pope Francis belonged.

Pope Francis visited Cuba later that year. Just days before his arrival, the Cuban government announced the pardon of 3,522 common prisoners as an act of clemency.

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While in Havana, the pope met with Fidel Castro, who gave him a first edition of the book Fidel and Religion by Brazilian friar and liberation theologian Frei Betto.

Criticism from the Opposition

Francis’s diplomatic approach also drew criticism from parts of the Cuban opposition. In a 2022 interview with Univision, the pope revealed he had “a human relationship” with Raúl Castro.

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International

Dominican Republic Declares Three Days of Mourning for Pope Francis

Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader has declared three days of national mourning starting Tuesday following the death of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88 in his residence at the Casa Santa Marta.

In an official decree, Abinader highlighted the pope’s legacy “as a global leader who promoted significant reforms within the Catholic Church and was known for his humility, openness to dialogue, and commitment to peace among nations.”

During the mourning period, the national flag will be flown at half-staff at military facilities and public buildings.

According to a statement from the Office of the Presidency, although Pope Francis never visited the Dominican Republic during his papacy, he maintained a close relationship with the country. He expressed solidarity and empathy during difficult times, including offering prayers for the victims of the recent tragedy at a Santo Domingo nightclub on April 8, which claimed 232 lives and left more than 180 injured.

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