AI Chile celebrated a night of video screenings, art exhibition, poetry reading, and music at the Utopia Cafe on 15 May.

The event started with an exhibition of paintings, including artwork by Feliciano Alba, volunteer in the AI Chile Counter Terror with Justice team.

The second part of the evening was introduced by Karl Boehmer, president of AI Chile, followed by a screening of “Stuff of Life” , made by AI UK about the torture technique known as “waterboarding”, which has been used by the CIA

The AI Chile team introduced the Counter Terror with Justice campaign, and singer José Cerpa Salinas played some of his own songs, before the poetry reading started.

First came poems written in Chile and Argentina during the 1970’s, from detainees tortured under dictatorships. These were followed by poems from the Middle East, written by Palestinians in the 1980’s, during the Israeli occupation of Gaza and The West Bank. The third couple of poems, from the ex-Yugoslav region, were written in the 1990’s during the civil war and separatism.

Finally, four poems from Guantánamo were presented; “Oh Padre”, “La Muerte”, “La Humillación de los Grilletes” and “¿Es cierto?” The last one was read by the public.

The presentation of each of poem was preceded by a short explanation about the history of the country or region.

The Zulus reggae band finished off this very successful event.