Minister of Justice on Mapuche conflict: "There are no political prisoners in Chile"

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SANTIAGO.- Minister of Justice Carlos Maldonado has clarified that there are no political prisoners in Chile after a group of Mapuche Indians voiced claims to such an effect and are requesting certain benefits following their arrest as part of the Anti-Terrorist Law.

The minister told Radio Cooperativa that "those being held in custody (…) are there exclusively due to a court ruling and have enjoyed all aspects of due process".

With regards to prison conditions, Maldonado stated that during his visit to Chile last week, the speaker for the Inter-American Human Rights Court, Florentín Meléndez, indicated that they were among the best on the continent.

The Minister also said that Meléndez had received reports of mistreatment by prison guards, but claimed that there were no reports of torture.

Additionally, Maldonado maintained that there are no cases of torture practices in Chile, nor is there permissiveness for people to "look the other way" in cases of mistreatment since "if necessary, these cases are investigated and punished accordingly".