wfn.org | Chilean church seeks truth for the sake of reconciliation

[FRANK_IMHOFF.parti@ecunet.org (FRANK IMHOFF)]

Lutherans speak out on human rights violations during Pinochet's regime

GENEVA, 7 December 1998 (lwi) - The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile
(IELCH) has described the arrest of former Chilean president Augusto
Pinochet in London as the "consequence of necessary processes not realized
in our country."

In a public statement, the church expresses support for the demand to look
into and prosecute cases of human rights violations during the dictator's
term of office. According to the statement: "In our biblical
understanding, reconciliation is always based on the truth, on justice and
reparation."

However, since many cases, for instance those of disappeared prisoners,
have not yet been looked into, "there is no question of reconciliation
among Chileans, as it cannot be built on pain ignored and open wounds,"
the Lutheran church observes.

The statement points out that the discussion on the common ethic and truth
stimulated by the arrest gives rise to the hope that the process of
reconciliation in Chile gets a new impetus which "is necessary for living
together in the national community." During Pinochet's regime, the IELCH
was vocal on human rights in different ecumenical initiatives.

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Lutheran World Information
Assistant Editor, English: Pauline Mumia
E-mail: pmu@lutheranworld.org
http://www.lutheranworld.org/