Chilean government regrets decision to grant asylum to Palma Salamanca

The Government of Chile expresses its disagreement and strongly regrets the decision of the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFPRA) to grant political asylum to Ricardo Palma Salamanca, convicted by Chilean courts as the perpetrator of the murder of a Senator of the Republic and other crimes of a terrorist nature.

Furthermore, the Government of Chile categorically states and emphasizes that the rule of law exists in Chile and, consequently, the necessary guarantees are provided to ensure that the sentence is carried out in strict compliance with the rights and duties imposed by national and international law.

Both the judicial process following the crime of Senator Jaime Guzmán, as well as the sentence and its enforcement, took place in our country in the full force of a democratic State governed by the rule of law.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile will summon the French Ambassador to Chile to express its disagreement with OFPRA's decision on political asylum.

The Government of Chile will urge the continuation of the extradition procedure so that the French courts can determine whether or not to accept the extradition request.