Chile: Shooting of minor by Chilean police

                           CHILD CONCERN
                         Case CHL 191198.CC

The international secretary requests your URGENT intervention 
regarding the following situation in Chile.

Brief description of the situation:

Various Chilean organisations, including the Comite de Defensa de los 
Derechos del Pueblo (CODEPU), member of the OMCT network, have 
expressed their deep concern over the shooting of  a young girl in the 
village of Santa Teresa, in Chile.

According to information received, the girl Paula Lagos, 16 years old, 
was at a public square with two friends. Following a demonstration 
against  Augusto Pinochet, organised by a group of youngsters, 
members of the "Carabineros" ( Chilean Police) began an operation to 
search for the participants. According to the information, during the 
operation the policemen shot at the inhabitants of the village, and 
gravely injured the minor while she was talking with her friends.

An uncle of the minor asked the "Carabineros"  to help him take the girl 
to hospital or call an ambulance, but they refused and threatened to 
arrest him. According to the information, the minor was
taken to the hospital 10 minutes later.

When they arrived at the  Sótero del Rio Hospital, the police official on 
duty refused to report the incident.  The girl's family told him they would 
go to the Investigations Police (a different branch of the
Police in Chile). However, a few moments later a civilian accompanied by 
two "Carabineros" arrived at the hospital, saying that he was a "Fiscal" 
(Public Prosecutor), and took down the statements of the
family. He informed them that they would be summoned before a court, 
but this has not happened yet.

Paula Lagos is currently in intensive care at the Sótero Rio Hospital and 
her legs are paralysed , she is on a  ventilator. Her condition is extremely 
tenuous.

Action requested:

Please write to Chilean authorities urging them to:

i.	carry out a full and impartial investigation into the events, in order to 
identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal, civil 
and/or administrative sanctions provided by law;

ii.	provide  reparations and compensation to the injured minor, 
including complete and free medical treatment.

iii.	in general, guarantee human rights and fundamental freedoms in 
accordance with international law and international human rights 
standards.

Addresses:

Presidente de la Republica, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, Palacio de la 
Moneda Santiago, Chile, Fax: +562 694 5080, Telegrams: Sr. Presidente, 
Santiago, Chile

Ministro del Interior, Sr. Raul Troncoso, Ministerio del Interior, Palacio 
de la Moneda, Santiago, Chile, Fax: +562 696 8740 - 699 2165

Ministra de la Justicia, Sra. Maria Soledad Alvear, Ministerio de Justicia 
Morand, 107, Santiago, Chile, Fax: +562 695 4558

Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Sr. Jose Miguel Inzulza, Ministerio de 
Relaciones Exteriores, Catedral 1158, Piso 3, Santiago,Chile Fax: +562 696 
8796 - 672 6274

Geneva, November 19th 1998

The Human Rights Action Network, a part of Derechos Human Rights, distributes appeals on behalf of victims of human rights violations. You are invited to join the network. Please check the date of the present action and do not write if it's over a month old.