Vidal denies Rettig and Valech cases will be re-opened via decree

SANTIAGO.- The government has closed the door on the possibility of re-opening the Valech and Rettig commissions via judicial decree and has insisted that, if the Human Rights Institute project is approved, the entities will only resume activities in order to look into new cases of human rights violations.

According to the spokesperson for La Moneda, Francisco Vidal, the task of examining errors in the rulings issued in already existing cases would be left to the Human Rights Program of the Ministry of Interior, if "a responsible lawsuit is brought".

"I want it to be clear that: with the list of missing and executed prisoners that was elaborated by the Rettig Commision and the former Reparation and Reconciliation Commission, the Ministry of Interior will continue to do the work by way of its Human Rights Program, but with responsible cases", stated Vidal.

Additionally, Vidal called on National Rennovation (RN) presidential candidate Sebastián Piñera to provide the courts with the records that led him to make the announcement today that there are four other cases of falsely reported missing prisoners.

"What the government is asking Sebastián Piñera to do is put the cases at the disposition of the Inspection Magistrate (Carlos Gajardo), because that is what should be done", stated Vidal.