Memorials to Justice and Reconciliation

We started our day traveling through downtown Santiago to the museum, 'Museo de la Memoria y Los Derechos Humanos' (Museum of Memory and Human Rights). The museum is dedicated to commemorate the victims of human rights violations during the military regime led by Augusto Pinochet between 1973 and 1990. We viewed many videos, newspaper clippings and personal testimonies on the 3,216 victims who died, are missing or were executed and of the 38,254 victims of political abduction and torture. One example of a memorial (see picture) is for the 125 persons who disappeared after the coup and were found buried in a mass grave without any identification. We were at times horrified by what we saw and we could feel the Chileans unending grief. 

In the afternoon we somberly walked the grounds of Villa Grimaldi, a former center for abduction, torture and extermination between the years of 1974 and 1978. It is estimated that 4,500 abducted prisoners passed through this place, of which 229 disappeared or were murdered. In 2004 the site was declared a historical national monument. It was a very difficult place to visit where unfathomable events occurred but where now healing can take place instead. We prayed that while we cannot change the events of the past, we can move forward with what we know should never happen again. 

Later in the afternoon we met several men working with the Commission for Justice and Reconciliation. Many Chileans have suffered emotional consequences and therefore economic hardships as a result. The organization was established to help these victims. Even though there are many hurdles to overcome due to current anti-terror and amnesty laws, they have much hope for the church's role in providing much needed justice for so many.

We ended our day with a very moving testimony by Pastor Louis who himself suffered torture under the dictatorship. He also shared his faith story with us. It was the church who reached out to him and his love for Jesus that changed his life and became a pastor. We were inspired by his courage and his passion to end violence and torture in Chile even now! Dear God, we pray for those who suffer from injustice. Amen.