On October 2, two health workers and members of the Partido Comunista were executed at the Maquehua Air Base.

-Alejandro FLORES RIVERA, 33 years old, employee at the Regional Hospital of Temuco, Regional President of the National Federation of Health Workers (Fenats);

-Hernán HENRIQUEZ ARAVENA, 38 years old, surgeon, Zonal Chief of the National Health Service for the provinces of Malleco and Cautín.

In the days immediately following September 11, both had been summoned and voluntarily presented themselves to the Military Prosecutor's Office, where they were placed under house arrest. Subsequently, they were detained and transferred to the Maquehua Air Base.

Credible testimonies indicate that both were in poor physical condition as a result of the torture they had endured. On the night of October 2, they were removed from that facility by members of the Fuerza Aérea, which was the last time they were seen alive.

Three days later, through Communiqué No. 9 of October 5, 1973, the Temuco Garrison Command informed the public that "due to an escape attempt planned by Alejandro Flores Rivera in complicity with Hernán Henríquez Aravena, while they were detained at the Barracks of Helicopter Group No. 3, and in collusion with individuals from the outside who tried to help them, they were eliminated by the Guard.

The other subjects fled without any casualties being sustained. These extremist elements were buried." The official version makes no reference to the date they were executed, nor to the burial site of their remains.

However, the death certificates indicate the date of death as October 2, 1973. The bodies have not been returned to their families to this day, which is neither explicable nor acceptable.

This Commission rejects the authorities' version based on the following circumstances:

-It is not credible that, while being detained in a military facility, without visitors and without their presence at that location even having been acknowledged to their relatives, the prisoners could have agreed upon an escape plan with people outside the facility;

-The deteriorated physical condition of the detainees resulting from the torture to which they had been subjected, and the strict military surveillance of the facility and its surroundings, make the possibility of carrying out an escape attempt improbable;

-Given the heavy military surveillance of the area during that period, it is implausible that the alleged accomplices from the outside could have escaped without being captured;

-Credible testimonies presented to this Commission indicate that both detainees were removed by members of the Fuerza Aérea on October 2 from the Maquehua Base to an unknown destination.

In accordance with the evidence presented, this Commission is convinced that Alejandro Flores and Hernán Henríquez were executed by State agents and were victims of human rights violations.