Video of Colombian refugees attacking a family in Chile raises concerns

A cell phone video where a group of people are seen attacking a family with sticks and stones, and leaving most of them unconscious, has been determined to show 10 Colombian refugees attacking a family of Peruvian residents getting home from a party in the town of Iquique in Chile on August 3rd 2008. This video evidence was used by the District Attorney in processing and imprisoning at least two of the Colombian refugees who were later released.

According to the victim's testimonies, the Colombian refugees spoke about them as Chileans, saying that they wanted to kill at least one. This violent act has embarrassed many Colombians, who have set out to apologize for their countrymen in the video comment thread, but hate comments and flame wars have also begun on the subject. In CiberAmérica, the author poses a question regarding the release of the Colombians, even after the video evidence:

La justicia reacciona en forma desconcertante al considerar como riña un episodio que aparece como un ataque a una familia donde todos fueron lesionados.

¿Hubiera sido la misma reacción si las víctimas hubieran sido chilenas?

Justice reacts in a disconcerting manner by considering as a quarrel an episode that looks like an attack on a family where everyone was injured.
¿Would the reaction have been the same had the victims been Chilean?

The video can be seen on YouTube as well as Vimeo.

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