MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Rift widens as Chile hands letter of complaint to Argentine ambassador

Argentine Foreign Secretary Timerman used the word “nonsense” to describe the incident with Chile

The differences between Chile and Argentina with regards to the ex guerrilla fighter Sergio Galvarino Apablaza Guerra's situation were clearly marked during the meeting between Chile's Foreign Minister, Alfredo Moreno, and Argentine Ambassador to Chile Ginés Gonzáles García.

During the meeting, held Monday at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Santiago de Chile, Moreno handed Ginés a letter of complaint from the Chilean government with regards to Argentina's decision to grant political asylum to Apablaza.

The Executive Branch in Argentina refuses to extradite the ex guerrilla member, who is charged in his native country with crimes committed in the 90's when democracy had been restored in Chile.

“Chile complies with judicial norms that guarantee due process for Mister Apablaza, as would be the case for any other person that must face the courts. We believe that the decision made by the CONARE committee” on behalf of the Argentine government “goes against the judicial norms with which Chile complies” said minister Moreno.

Prior to the meeting, Moreno had met with Chilean Ambassador to Argentina Adolfio Zaldívar and Chilean President Sebastián Piñera, in order to discuss further action.

These developments came almost a week after the CONARE refugees committee in Argentina decided to grant political asylum to Apablaza, who is charged with the murder of Conservative Senator Jaime Guzmán, killed in 1991 and the kidnapping of media businessman Christian Edwards del Río, son of the owner of El Mercurio newspaper.

“The government of Chile strongly laments and rejects the decision” made by Argentina against the extradition of Apablaza, said Moreno after the meeting with Piñera.

In addition and during the same meeting, it was made known that Argentina could be tried before the United Nations and the CIDH human rights committee for granting the ex guerrilla fighter asylum. Apablaza has been living in Buenos Aires since 1993.

Argentine Foreign Affairs Minister Timerman talked about the controversy and contradicted early statements from the Chilean Piñera saying “this move brings about no trouble for bilateral relations”.

The Minister referred to Chilean Deputy Andrés Chadwick, from Unión Demócrata Independiente party, who previously announced he is planning to report Argentina before the United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for the decision on Apablaza. Timerman said: “I do not know the lawmaker and I've never heard of him, something that clearly shows me this is nonsense.”

“I believe this issue will bring about no trouble for bilateral relations,” Timerman sentenced. And went deeper in the matter: “A Foreign Ministry representative is one of the members of the CONARE Commission.”

Chilean lawmaker Chadwick had said he will file his complaint before the UN Human Rights Commission to show his discontent towards the Argentine National Refugees Commission (CONARE) for he feels they “are pulling Chile's leg”.