Chile and The Protection of Nazi's

The BBC reports that Paul Schaefer- an ex-Nazi medic, preacher, and cult leader - has finally been arrested in Argentine. Schaefer was convicted in absentia for the sexual abuse of young boys. He faces jail time in Chile for these crimes. Schaefer moved to Chile in 1961 fleeing accusation of sexual abuse in Germany. In Chile he set up the "Colonia Digdad". The colony had about 300 members and is said to resemble the Germany of the 1930's. Defectors of the colony have claimed that Schaefer was elevated to the status of a God within the colony. Furthermore, they accuse Schaefer of sexual abuses and the repression of the people within the camps. This narrative also relates to our previous class discussions about the close relationship between Nazi war criminals and former Latin Americna dictators. Sources in Chile have revealed that Schaefer and Augusto Pinochet shared a close friendship. Many of Pinochet's political prisoners maintain that they were tortured in tunnels under the colony with Mozart and Wagner playing in the background.

There is still a debate in Chile about the wisdom of full disclosure in matters such as this. Critics have accused the ruling Chilean elite of wanting to keep the atrocities committed by Pinochet under wraps. One can only hope that the critics and the independent commissions will prevail and help the country and its people come to terms with their past.