Human Rights Watch: Kast's Security Reform Doesn't Meet Chile's International Obligations

Human Rights Watch's Americas director, Juanita Goebertus, said September 1 that President Kast's ACOT constitutional security reform 'no se ajusta a las obligaciones internacionales de Chile' (does not align with Chile's international obligations), warning that its proposed fifth type of constitutional state of exception — an eight-month presidential emergency power renewable without prior congressional authorization — would grant the president 'una autoridad prácticamente ilimitada' (virtually unlimited authority) and endanger rights to freedom of assembly and association. HRW also flagged the reform's vague criteria for designating groups as terrorist or criminal organizations without specifying legal consequences, its warrantless communications-interception powers, and proposed differentiated prison regimes restricting visits and benefits. The organization urged Congress to reject the reform, calling it 'una peligrosa usurpación de poder' (a dangerous usurpation of power). Kast rejected withdrawing the bill the same day, telling reporters 'el debate recién está comenzando' (the debate is just beginning) even as the government had already downgraded the measure from 'suma urgencia' to 'urgencia simple' in Congress.