Chilean-Australian refugee arrested returning to Chile

By Neville Spencer

Nelson Rivera, a Chilean refugee resident in Sydney for eight years, has been sentenced to 400 days in prison after returning to Chile to visit his ill mother. He was detained and interrogated by police on arriving at Arturo Merino Benitez Airport on August 29.

Despite efforts by friends and relatives to obtain information from the Chilean government, the reasons for his arrest are not yet clear. Rivera's wife was informed of his sentence by the Military Prosecutor who claimed that it related to a crime committed in Chile in 1985.

Rivera was a political prisoner for six months under the Pinochet dictatorship and moved to Australia a year after his release. Had there been a warrant out for his arrest at the time he would not have been allowed to leave Chile, nor to enter Australia.

Rivera became publicly known after he was detained for allegedly throwing an egg at Chilean president Patricio Aylwin during his visit to Sydney in 1993.

The Chilean community in Sydney have begun to raise money for Rivera's legal expenses and payment of a fine, and are petitioning the Chilean government for his release.

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