THE
IN BRIEF: DIGNIDAD UPDATE (Jan. 30)
JUDGE
CONFIRMS MEETINGS BETWEEN PAUL SCHÄFER AND DINA AGENTS
Jorge Zepeda, the judge investigating human rights cases at Colonia Dignidad,
confirmed last week that the ex-leader of the German enclave, Paul Schäfer, had
regular meetings with agents from Augusto Pinochet’s secret police (DINA)
during the military dictatorship.
The meetings took place at the Diego Portales building,
the official government complex used by Pinochet, and suggest that authorities
were probably aware of the variety of crimes that were happening at the
enclave. Colonia Dignidad, a right-wing religious compound, was settled by
German immigrants in 1961 near Parral, in southern
Schäfer is currently in prison, charged with pedophilia and numerous human
rights violations.
Judge Zepeda is also gathering information on the location of bombs and
explosives that were buried on Colonia Dignidad premises. Excavations are to
begin in March. A weapons arsenal was found on the compound in June and October
2005, which, according to the government, confirmed the colony’s “complicity in
paramilitary operations” during the military dictatorship (ST,
(editor@santiagotimes.cl)