I am writing to protest the invitation of the torture ship Esmeralda to the Inner Harbour on the B.C. Day long weekend.
Whose bright idea was this anyway?
It’s well documented that this ship was used to torture and kill innocent people after the coup in Chile in 1973.
Unfortunately no one has been held accountable for the crimes that were committed by the Chilean navy on this ship, and, incredibly, the whereabouts of loved ones are still unknown 38 years after the fact.
Only if the Esmeralda was coming on a voyage of apology to the many ex-Chilean citizens who live in Canada (mostly as the result of the coup) should it be welcomed here.
I believe the invitation should be re-thought until the Chilean navy comes clean with its past.
John Hillian
Victoria