Chile: Further information on: death penalty: Cupertino Segundo Andaur Contreras
On 29 August 1996 the death sentence against Cupertiono Segundo Andaur Contreras was commuted by President Frei to life imprisonment.
EXTERNAL AI Index: AMR 22/10/96
30 August 1996
Further information on EXTRA 108/96 (AMR 22/06/96, 17 July 1996) and follow-up
(AMR 22/08/96, 20 August 1996) - Death Penalty
CHILECupertino Segundo ANDAUR CONTRERAS
On 29 August 1996, President Eduardo Frei took the decision to commute the
death sentence against Cupertino Segundo Andaur Contreras to life imprisonment.
At 1:25pm President Frei read out a statement in the presidential palace, La
Moneda in the capital Santiago:
"En mi condición de Jefe de Estado, me corresponde ejercer un deber
constitucional ineludible. Debo decidir sobre la vida o muerte de un
hombre condenado por haber cometido unn asesinato atroz ... ."
"Para cumplir este deber, he considerado en conciencia los antecedentes y,
asumiendo la responsabilidad que la Constitución me impone, he decidido
conmutar la pena de muerte del condenado por la de presidio perpetuo
... ."
"Adopto esta decisión inspirado en mis principios y mis valores, sostenidos
y expresados con profunda convicción a lo largo de los años. No puedo
creer que para defender la vida y castigar al que mata, el Estado deba
a su vez matar".
"La pena de muerte es tan inhumana como el crimen que la motiva".
"As Head of State I must exercise an unavoidable constitutional duty. I must
decide on the life or death of a man sentenced for having committed an
atrocious crime ... ."
"To fulfil this duty, I have considered the facts of the case conscientiously
and assuming the responsibility which the Constitution imposes on me,
I have decided to commute the death sentence on the prisoner to life
imprisonment".
"I have taken this decision inspired by my principles and my values which I
have sustained and expressed with deep conviction throughout the years.
I cannot believe that to defend life and punish the person that kills,
the State should in its turn kill".
"The death penalty is as inhuman as the crime which motivates it".
FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/
airmail letters in SPANISH or in your own language:
- welcoming the presidential decision to commute the death sentence against
Cupertino Segundo Andaur Contreras;
- calling for the total abolition of the death penalty in Chile,
and expressing hopes that the forthcoming congressional debate on the death
penalty will result in its abolition.
2
You may also raise other arguments for abolition of the death penalty listed
in original EXTRA and previous follow-up.
APPEALS TO:
President of the Republic
Señor Presidente de la República de Chile
Señor Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle
Palacio de la Moneda
Santiago, Chile
Faxes: + 562 694 5080
Telegrams: Sr. Presidente, Santiago, Chile
Salutation Sr. Presidente /Dear President
Minister of Justice
Sra. Maria Soledad Alvear
Ministra de Justicia
Ministerio de Justicia
Morandé 107
Santiago, Chile
Faxes: +562 695 4558
Telegrams: Ministra Justicia, Santiago, Chile
Salutation: Sra. Ministra
President, Commission for Human Rights (Deputies)
Señor Erick Villegas
Presidente de la Comisión de Derechos Humanos
Nacionalidad y Ciudadanía de la Cámara de Diputados
Pedro Montt s/n
Edificio del Congreso
Valparaíso, CHILE
Faxes: +563 223 2657
Salutation: Sr. Presidente / Dear President
COPIES TO:
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Señor José Miguel Inzulza
Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores
Morandé 441
ex Edificio del Congreso
Santiago, Chile
Faxes: +562 696 8796
President of the Senate's Commission on Human Rights, Nationality and
Citizenship
Sr. Ricardo Martin Diaz
President de la Comisión de Derechos Humanos,
Nacionalidad y Ciudadania del Senado
Pedro Montt s/n
Edifico del Congreso
Valparaiso, Chile
Fax: +5632 232657
Human Rights Organization
CODEPU
3
Brown Sur 150
Ñuñoa
Santiago, Chile
Daily Newspaper
La Nación
Agustinas 1269
Santiago, Chile
Fax: + 562 698 1059
and to diplomatic representatives of Chile accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat,
or your section office, if sending appeals after 1 October 1996.