No information on the co-ordinator of the Estación Mapocho Cultural Centre between 1990 and 1995, nor on the Peña Folclórica Ríe y Canta could be found among the documentary sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, several reports refer to the Estación Mapocho Cultural Centre as being a forum for conferences, musical concerts and human rights events (La Prensa 17 Nov. 1998; La Tercera 19 April 1998; FUNVISOL 1996; Derechos Chile n.d.).

According to LARR, the Fortín Mapocho newspaper was a "popular left-wing daily" with 103 employees when it was closed down in 1991 because of financial difficulties (8 Aug. 1991). Information linking it to the Cultural Centre could not be found among the sources consulted.

According to a 15 April 1993 report by IPS, Rene Largo Farias had been killed in an attack six months earlier, reportedly by a "habitual delinquent" who "allegedly confessed that he committed the crime to rob" Largo Farias. However, the victim's relatives questioned police officers' account of the incident:

They said the police's version was "incongruous" and that the victim had reportedly been attacked by more than one person. They added that the attackers, who were obviously well trained, immobilized Largo Farias and made him sit before dealing him a series of mortal blows.

The late artist's relatives added that, according to media reports, members of the carabineros conducted an internal inquiry into the case, but did not disclose the results of the investigation (ibid.).

The report further stated that Largo Farias was the director of a program called "Chile Laughs and Sings" (Chile Rie y Canta) at the time of his death (ibid.).

In a 22 October 1999 interview, a public relations officer at the Estación Mapocho Cultural Centre stated that she was not familiar with the Peña Folclórica Ríe y Canta and had no knowledge of it being associated with the Centre. The officer further claimed that Rene Largo Farias had never been the Centre's general co-ordinator (ibid.). The officer also stated that the Fortín Mapocho is no longer in existence, and that it had not operated from the Centre (ibid.). The officer was not aware of any reports of ill-treatment of Centre personnel by the authorities in the 1990s (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Derechos Chile. n.d. "Lest We Forget." www.derechoschile.com/english/25eng.htm [Accessed 22 Oct. 1999]

Estación Mapocho Centro Cultural, Santiago de Chile. 22 October 1999. Interview with Public Relations Officer.

Fundación Documentación y Archivos de la Vicaría de la Solidaridad (FUNVISOL). 1996. Situación de los derechos humanos durante el segundo semestre de 1996. http://www.iglesia.cl/santiago/solidaridad/ [Accessed 22 Oct. 1999]

Inter Press Service (IPS). 15 April 1993. "Artists Demand Clarification of Folklorist's Murder." (NEXIS)

La Prensa [San Pedro Sula]. 17 November 1998. "Artistas ofrecerán concierto en Chile por Centroamérica." http://www.laprensahn.com [Accessed 22 Oct. 1999]

La Tercera [Santiago de Chile]. 19 April 1998. "Cumbre de las Americas: Agenda." www.tercera.cl [Accessed 22 Oct. 1999]

Latin American Regional Reports: Southern Cone (LARR) [London]. 8 August 1991. "Fortin Mapocho Closes." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International Report. 1990-1999.

Country Reports. 1990-1998.

Ercilla [Santiago de Chile]. 1998-1999.

El Expreso [Santiago de Chile]. 1999.

Latin America Regional Report: Southern Cone Report [London]. 1990-1999.

Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1990-1999.

Mensaje [Santiago de Chile]. 1999.

El Mercurio [Santiago de Chile]. 1997-1999.

El Mercurio [Valparaíso]. 1999.

Punto Final [Santiago de Chile]. 1997-1999.

El Siglo [Santiago de Chile]. 1999.

La Tercera [Santiago de Chile]. 1998-1999.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, WNC.

Internet sites including:

Amnesty International Website.

CHIP News Website.

Committee to Protect Journalists Website.

Derechos Website

Fundación de Documentación y Archivos de la Vicaría de la Solidaridad Website.

Fundación de Ayuda Social de las Iglesias Cristianas (FASIC) Website.

Human Rights Watch Website.

International Freedom of Expression Exchange Clearing House (IFEX) Website.

Lonely Planet Website.

Universidad de Chile Website.