On March 27, 1984, eleven people died in events linked to the Eighth National Day of Protest:

Caupolicán Humberto INOSTROZA LAMAS, 26, a Mechanical Engineering student at the Universidad de Concepción, participated with other university students in protest demonstrations in the Barrio Universitario of Concepción, intending to march toward the city center. Carabineros blocked this march, and the students responded with stones.

One of the Carabineros used his Winchester anti-riot shotgun, firing a rubber bullet projectile that wounded him, causing his death shortly thereafter due to acute anemia.

The testimonies analyzed by the Commission allow it to presume that, although the disturbance of public order may have warranted police intervention, the Carabineros agents made excessive use of force, violating the right to life of Caupolicán Humberto Inostroza.

Paola Andrea TORRES AGUAYO, 3 months old, and Soledad Ester TORRES AGUAYO, 4 years old, were sisters who died from severe burns suffered when their home caught fire in the absence of their parents.

That night, protest actions took place in the Población Libertad (Concepción), including power outages, and Carabineros intervened in the sector by launching tear gas canisters. In that context, the aforementioned fire occurred, caused by unidentified elements.

Based on the information received, this Commission presumes that, even if the fire was accidental, the deaths of both minors are attributable to the acts of political violence occurring in the area.

Juan Cristián ZAMORA MELENDEZ, 18, was with a group of people carrying out protest actions at the Rotonda Santa Julia (Viña del Mar) during the night. A vehicle appeared at the scene, from which shots were fired at the protesters. One of these shots wounded him severely, and he died at the scene due to acute anemia from a thoracic gunshot wound.

Based on the information presented and its context, this Commission presumes that Juan Cristián Zamora was a victim of the actions of private individuals who violated his right to life for political reasons. However, this Commission does not absolutely rule out that this case could have been an action of self-defense by the driver against the aggression of some protesters.

Nelson Ramón CARRASCO BASCUÑAN, 27, worked as a laborer for the Occupational Program for Heads of Households (POJH). On the afternoon of that day, Carabineros officers detained him on Gran Avenida, along with three other people.

The detainees were loaded onto a police bus. The bus stopped in the vicinity of the Población Tejas de Chena (San Bernardo), next to the Espejino canal. Around 10:00 PM, the four detainees were thrown into the canal.

The victim was unconscious from the blows received and died due to asphyxia by submersion in the water. The other three managed to get out of the canal and seek help at a nearby house. The facts are established by the accounts of several credible witnesses.

Carabineros discharged one of the officers involved. The competent court declared the same accused party guilty of the crime of unnecessary violence causing the death of a detainee.

The information analyzed by the Commission leads it to the conviction that Nelson Ramón Carrasco was executed by Carabineros officers, who thus gravely violated his right to life.

Francisco Antonio FUENZALIDA MORALES, 12, a primary school student, was wounded in the afternoon and died due to thoracic trauma from a lead pellet. Carabineros had arrived in the Población Lo Amor (Santiago) with buses and helicopters. Residents gathered at a distance. The police launched tear gas canisters and fired their service weapons.

Various credible testimonies lead this Commission to presume that Carabineros made excessive use of force, thus violating the human rights of Francisco Antonio Fuenzalida.

Luz Marina PAINEMAN PUEL, 15 days old, died due to "asphyxia by aspiration of gastric contents." The information known to the Commission indicates that the event was caused by the inhalation of tear gas used in the vicinity of the infant's home.

Given that the use of tear gas is a normally legitimate means of controlling public order, and that it was not determined that its use was improper on this occasion, this Commission is convinced that Luz Marina Painemán fell victim to the political violence existing during that day's demonstrations.

Víctor Manuel QUEZADA OVIEDO, 48, was an employee. In the afternoon, anti-government demonstrations took place in the Población Sara Gajardo (Santiago). Carabineros intervened using tear gas canisters and firearms, causing his death due to thoracic-cardiopulmonary trauma from a bullet.

Credible testimonies lead this Commission to presume that the Carabineros agents exceeded the use of force, violating the right to life of Víctor Manuel Quezada.

Elena del Tránsito FARIAS QUIROZ, 85, a housewife, suffered the effects of a tear gas canister in the afternoon when Carabineros intervened to disperse demonstrations in the Población Lo Amor (Santiago). She died the following day due to acute myocardial insufficiency.

This Commission considers that the use of tear gas falls within the generally accepted norms of public order control by the police, and there is no evidence of improper use in this case. It is convinced that Elena Farías fell victim to the situation of political violence that was being experienced.

Erika del Carmen SANDOVAL CARO, 15, a secondary school student, was struck in the afternoon by a bullet that passed through her head. She was outside her home on Avenida 5 de Abril, Maipú, when a Carabineros bus arrived, from which tear gas canisters were launched and shots were fired. There were demonstrations in the vicinity.

The Commission, based on the testimonies received, presumes that the actions of the police officers were disproportionate in relation to the disturbance of public order in the sector, thus violating the right to life of Erika del Carmen Sandoval.

Juan Fernando ARAVENA MEJIAS, 16, a secondary school student, was with a group of young people at a demonstration with bonfires next to the Panamericana Sur (Santiago). Carabineros arrived at the scene.

Several protesters fled, but the minor was caught and beaten by the police. He died three days later due to craniocerebral trauma. The autopsy report shows the severity of the head injuries, in addition to other contusions on various parts of his body.

The Commission, based on the information presented, presumes that the Carabineros agents violated the human rights of Juan Fernando Aravena by making excessive use of force to disperse demonstrations.