OLGA WEISFEILER: CHILE TRIP REPORT, March 2004

At the beginning of March 2004 I went to Chile in my continuing search for information that would lead to revealing the fate and whereabouts of my brother, Boris Weisfeiler. The central focus of my trip was to initiate a media and an advertising campaign, asking witnesses, or anyone with knowledge to come forward. Supporters, friends, and Boris' former colleagues supported this campaign financially. My Chilean attorneys of Colombara & Olmedo law firm, with the assistance and incredible support of a free lance journalist Pascale Bonnefoy, organized wide publicity. US Ambassador to Chile William Brownfield offered to host a news conference in support of the search for Boris, who went missing in January 1985 during a hiking trip, and is the one U.S. citizen among the 1100 Chilean desaparecidos.

The Embassy press conference took place on March 5, 2004; Chargé d'Affaires Philip Goldberg announced that the US Embassy was renewing the search for information on Boris' disappearance. More then twenty journalists from different world press agencies, newspapers, and TV stations were present.  Chilean leading and local newspapers offered their support and published stories on Boris' disappearance and my search for him, including contact information. Paid advertisings were published during the week of March 7-12 in two southern local newspapers: El Centro and La Discusion. Two of the most listened to radio stations, Radio Cooperativa and Radio Bio Bio, repeatedly aired the ad calling on anyone with information to step forward.

The US Embassy officials, Second Secretary Jeffrey Galvin and Legal Attaché Joseph Tipton, attorney Joanna Heskia, and I had a meeting with investigating Judge Ministro Alejandro Solis to discuss the ongoing investigation. The US embassy officials reiterated to the judge embassy’s offer of help in the investigation.

Declassified U.S. documents indicate that Boris was seized by Pinochet's security forces while hiking in Southern Chile and taken to a German enclave known as Colonia Dignidad. During my trip to Chile I traveled to several of the small towns near the Colonia in search of people who had seen Boris, and potential witnesses.

During the Pinochet regime Colonia Dignidad was used as a torture and detention center by Chilean secret service forces, DINA. 27 of child sexual abuse cases against leader of the colony, Paul Schaefer, are pending in the local courts. Numerous cases of crimes committed by colony's
officials including fraud, court evasion, and child abuse cover up, abduction of children, retaining residents against their will, segregating families, and inflicting harsh physical punishments on residents have piled up in the courts. The Boris Weisfeiler disappearance case includes charges against leaders of Colonia Dignidad who are responsible for his fate.

If anyone reading this information has information on Boris or any other related information, please contact me at the email address above.