Members of Leopoldo Lucero Garcia with the Ambassador of Chile to the United Kingdom, Ximena Fuentes, and the Undersecretary of Human Rights, Daniela Quintanilla, during the ceremony of apology at the Chilean Embassy in London.

A Letter of Gratitude: The García Family’s Message to the Government of Chile

Share

Survivors of torture are often the ones who articulate most clearly what justice truly means. Today, we share a personal message from the García Family, a powerful expression of pain, healing, and hope following the recent apology issued by the Chilean State to Leopoldo García Lucero’s family. 

The ceremony, which took place on 10 October 2025 at Chile’s Embassy in London, acknowledged the profound impact of Leopoldo’s torture on him and his family, as well as the further harm caused by the Chilean State’s prolonged delays in investigating and prosecuting the main suspect in his torture, who died in 2022 without ever being found guilty. 

Leopoldo García Lucero, a survivor of torture under the Pinochet regime, was forcibly exiled to the United Kingdom 50 years ago along with his family. 

Below is the letter sent by the García Family to the Government of Chile, published in full as per their request.

27 October 2025
Letter of Gratitude
From the García Family
To the Government of Chile,
With full and humble hearts, we wish to express our deepest gratitude for the recognition and apology given in honour of Leopoldo, and our family’s suffering during Chile’s long and painful years of dictatorship.
For decades, silence was our constant companion — silence from those in power, silence from institutions, and silence that echoed through generations of families torn apart by exile, fear, and loss. Today, that silence has finally been broken.
This acknowledgement is not only a gesture of justice for Leopoldo, but also a moment of healing for all of us who lived in the shadows of that history. To have his name spoken with truth, dignity, and compassion means more than words can express. It restores a part of our humanity that was stolen, and honours the strength of survivors and their loved ones who carried these wounds quietly for so long.
We accept this apology offered by the Government of Chile as a step toward true reconciliation and remembrance. May it mark the beginning of a renewed national commitment to truth, accountability, and human rights, so that future generations may never endure what ours did.
With deep respect and gratitude,
The García Family

 

The family have also asked us to publicise their thanks to REDRESS:

To REDRESS, we are profoundly thankful for your tireless dedication, compassion, and perseverance in pursuing justice when it felt impossible. You stood with us in truth, and because of that, Leopoldo’s story — and the stories of so many others — will not be forgotten.

Photo by REDRESS: From left to right, the Ambassador of Chile to the United Kingdom, Ximena Fuentes; Chris Esdaile, Senior Legal Advisor at REDRESS; Jake Illanes (grandson of Leopoldo García); Eilena Illanes (great-granddaughter of Leopoldo García); Francisca García (daughter of Leopoldo García); Gloria Blaskett (daughter of Leopoldo García); and Daniela Quintanilla (Undersecretary of Human Rights of Chile).