Tres semanas después del revuelo político generado en Chile por el presunto hallazgo en Argentina de Bernarda Vera, una mujer que integraba el listado oficial de víctimas de la dictadura militar de Augusto Pinochet, la Justicia chilena abrió una investigación para dar con su paradero.

La causa fue radicada el Primer Juzgado del Crimen de Temuco, en la región de La Araucanía, y quedó bajo secreto de sumario. El caso lo lleva adelante el ministro de la Corte Álvaro Mesa, especialista en causas de violaciones de los derechos humanos.

A través de un escrito, el funcionario afirmó que «hasta hace pocos meses no existían causas vigentes respecto a los delitos de desaparición forzada, secuestro o detención ilegal de Bernarda Vera Contardo«, nombre que figura entre las 1.162 personas incluidas en el Informe de la Comisión Verdad y Reconciliación (Rettig).

El panorama cambió, según el portal Bio Bio Chile, ante el surgimiento de algunas «incongruencias en los relato» que fueron reportadas por el Plan Nacional de Búsqueda (PNB) del Programa de Derechos Humanos» y derivaron en la apertura de «un cuaderno de búsqueda».

La protagonista de la historia es Bernarda Vera, una profesora que, con 27 años y una hija de 5, fue detenida por militares el 10 de octubre de 1973 y que, aparentemente, había sido ejecutada en el puente de Villarrica, también en la región de La Araucania. Sin embargo, el caso dio un giro a fines de septiembre cuando salió a la luz una investigación periodística que habría ubicado a quien fuera militante del Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria (MIR) en la localidad bonaerense de Miramar.

Desde el gobierno de Gabriel Boric fue el ministro de Seguridad, Luis Cordero, quien señaló que la tarea de «corroborar científicamente la identidad de la mujer que vive en Argentina y que sería Bernarda Vera» le corresponde efectivamente al juez que tramita la causa.

La consulta al funcionario se debe a que fue quien estaba al frente del Ministerio de Justicia y Derechos Humanos cuando se puso en marcha el Plan Nacional de Búsqueda, Verdad y Justicia y es el señalado por la oposición como el responsable de la eventual «inexactitud respecto al caso».

Conocida como «Anita» en sus tiempos de militancia en el MIR, Bernarda Vera figura en el Informe Rettig, el registro de las víctimas de violaciones a los derechos humanos durante la dictadura pinochetista. Testimonios que quedaron fuera de la causa y algunos detalles del boletín que cada mes publica el PNB dieron indicios de que la mujer podría haber escapado de ese destino.

El reporte que se difundió en septiembre mencionó que «en algunos casos, muy excepcionales, este proceso ha revelado incongruencias con las conclusiones de las Comisiones de Verdad. Un primer caso refiere a una persona, condenada a muerte por un Consejo de Guerra en 1973, que fue calificada por la CNVR (Comisión Rettig), con los antecedentes disponibles en la época como víctima de desaparición forzada”.

“Posteriormente, el PNB recogió testimonios de personas que dijeron haberla visto fuera de Chile después de la fecha en la que la CNVR estableció su desaparición. A raíz de ello, se abrió una investigación administrativa respecto de su trayectoria. Estos antecedentes fueron puestos en conocimiento del Comité de Seguimiento y Participación del Plan Nacional de Búsqueda; de la familia de manera reservada para proteger su privacidad; y al mismo tiempo, se ofició oportunamente al Ministro en Visita Extraordinaria con competencia en la causa”, detalla el documento.

Esos datos fueron parte de la investigación periodística de Chilevisión, que condujo a una de sus cronistas a la ciudad de la costa bonaerense y donde habría dado con el paradero de Bernarda Vera Contardo, quien detrás de la puerta de su casa se negó a hablar con la periodista. El tema generó un fuerte debate en el país y desató fuertes críticas a la administración del Frente Amplio.

Protesters set a police car on fire and hurled glass bottles at officers in Dublin, Ireland, on Tuesday night after an illegal migrant was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old Irish girl who was in state care.

The violence erupted outside the City West Hotel, a sprawling former hotel-turned migrant center where an illegal migrant — who had deportation orders standing against him — is accused of attacking the girl late Sunday night.

Irish police, An Garda Síochána, said that six people were arrested during the clashes and one female police officer suffered a foot injury.

HERE’S WHY IRELAND IS AT BOILING POINT OVER MASS IMMIGRATION

Police said their officers were subject to «sustained attacks» as they tried to cordon off the building. Nearly 300 police were dispatched to the area in Saggart.

Some protesters were seen waving Irish flags while others could be heard chanting, «Get them out, get them out,» in reference to the 2,000 migrants living at the shelter.

Police said protesters hurled hundreds of empty glass bottles from nearby garbage containers and bricks at officers, while fireworks were also discharged. A police helicopter was targeted with lasers, a spokesperson said.

Men on horseback attempted to breach police lines by charging at law enforcement, police said. Police used pepper spray as they tried to disperse the crowd.

«An Garda Síochána facilitates peaceful protests on a daily basis. This was obviously not a peaceful protest,» Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said in a statement. «The actions this evening can only be described as thuggery. This was a mob intent on violence against Gardaí.»

A protester films as a Garda vehicle burns during violent clashes outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Saggart, southwest Dublin, on Oct. 21, 2025. (Peter Murphy / AFP via Getty Images)

Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin condemned the attacks on police and said there was «no justification for the vile abuse against them.»

On Wednesday, he said the girl who was allegedly raped had not been protected by the state and the circumstances around the alleged attack are of «deep concern.»

THOUSANDS MARCH IN DUBLIN AGAINST IRELAND’S MASS MIGRATION POLICIES AS MCGREGOR PURSUES PRESIDENTIAL BID

The victim was in the care of child protection services, known as «Tusla,» which said she had absconded from staff during a planned recreational trip in the city center. It is unclear how she got in contact with the suspect.

The suspect, who is in his 20s, is originally from Africa, according to the Irish Mirror. He arrived in Ireland six years ago and failed his application for international protection in 2024 and was ordered deported in March, according to the Irish Times.

The incident took place on the grounds of Citywest, a former hotel which for the last few years has been housing migrants seeking international protection. 

The Irish government bought the hotel in September for around $150 million with the aim of turning it into a permanent migrant facility despite several protests by locals.

A protester waves the Irish flag in front of riot police on Oct. 21, 2025, in Dublin, Ireland. Demonstrators gathered outside the Citywest Hotel after police arrested a foreign national in connection with the alleged rape of a 10-year-old girl.  (Getty Images)

Tensions around mass immigration continue to bubble since November 2023 when hundreds of rioters looted shops, set fire to vehicles and threw rocks at police officers after three young children were stabbed outside a school allegedly by an Algerian-born suspect who had become an Irish citizen.

Last week, a 17-year-old Ukrainian was murdered just days after he came to Ireland and was placed in asylum care operated by Tusla. A Somalian youth, also an asylum seeker and described as a minor, has been charged with his murder, according to RTE News.

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A homeless foreign national was arrested and charged last week with the murder of an 89-year-old Irish woman, per the Irish Independent.

On Friday, Irish people go to the polls to elect a new president.

«I know that I know nothing» – Socrates

«You don’t know nothing» – Baseball Legend Yogi Berra

Socrates may have been claiming ignorance, Berra was talking about baseball, but both may as well have been talking about the government shutdown.

So when will it end?

«You shouldn’t ask me because I’m the guy who said it’ll only last five days,» Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., said on Fox. «But I will tell you, a couple of Democrat senators recently indicated that they think this is going to go ‘til at least the first of November.»

However, Biggs added that he doesn’t «see an end in sight.»

GOVERNMENT ENTERS LONGEST FULL SHUTDOWN IN US HISTORY WITH NO END IN SIGHT

Whether you are Socrates or Yogi Berra, we don’t know «nothing.» Which technically means that we do know something.

However, I do know proper grammar.

The one thing that I do know in this case is that I don’t know anything about ending the government shutdown.

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK: GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN STALLS AS DEMOCRATS DEMAND OBAMACARE SUBSIDY EXTENSION

Regardless… Is it even possible to game out when the government shutdown may end?

Congressional Republicans believed that Democrats would fold after a matter of days once funding lapsed in the wee hours of Oct. 1. Then Republicans argued that Democrats would cry «uncle» once federal workers missed their first paycheck last week. Later, the GOP suggested Democrats would keep the government shuttered through the «No Kings» rallies around the country last weekend.

The GOP argued that Democrats needed to show their base that they were «fighting» against President Donald Trump.

«Now that they had their protests, I just pray that they come to their senses and re-open the government this week,» said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., says he doesn’t «see an end in sight.»  (Getty Images)

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., accused Republicans of continually changing their reasons for why Democrats are blocking the GOP bill to fund the government.

«In a few days, it will be about something else,» Jeffries said.

So, we enter the ice age of Congressional inactivity as the government shutdown enters its fourth week.

Who could have predicted it?

Then again, who could have predicted thieves could make off with millions of dollars of jewelry inside the Louvre in an historic heist? At least the bandits stole our attention away from the government shutdown for a bit.

SHUTDOWN STANDSTILL: NO HEADWAY UNTIL THERE’S ‘INCENTIVE,’ POLITICOS LAMENT

That said, everyone knows (even if they won’t say it publicly) who will likely end the government shutdown: Trump.

He’s not just the president. Trump has a sway over Republicans in Congress that Ronald Reagan could only envy. So until he joins the fray, the government will remain closed.

«Donald Trump definitively needs to get involved. He needs to get off the sidelines. Get off the golf course and actually decide to end the shutdown that he’s created and that he has allowed to happen,» Jeffries said.

«Donald Trump, instead of leaving the country before he leaves the country, should sit down and negotiate with us so we can address this horrible crisis,» said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. «The president should meet with us. It’s not me, him or anything political. It’s that the people are in crisis every day.»

President Trump met with Republican lawmakers this week. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

The president did meet with lawmakers this week, holding court with Senate Republicans for lunch in the renovated Rose Garden.

«Did you notice the white marble floor?» quipped the president.

But Democrats contend that Trump huddled with the wrong party. Schumer characterized it as «a Rose Garden pep rally.»

Trump implored Democrats to bend – and vote for the GOP spending bill.

«They’re getting killed in the polls,» he said.

SCREAMING MATCH ERUPTS BETWEEN HAKEEM JEFFRIES, MIKE LAWLER AS GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN CHAOS CONTINUES

«Shouldn’t the president get involved in negotiations at this stage to end this?» yours truly asked Johnson.

«We’re not going [to] pay a ransom to reopen the federal government,» replied the speaker.

«Isn’t the only key to end this shutdown to just have a sit-down negotiation with both sides?» I countered.

«Republicans have nothing to offer to Democrats,» replied Johnson.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., meanwhile, contends that «Republicans have nothing to offer Democrats.» (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

In fact, some Republicans argued that Trump shouldn’t even negotiate.

«If I’ve learned anything about President Trump, it’s his timing. I think that he feels like the timing is not right now. We’re winning the messaging war,» said Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan. «So there’ll be a time. But the time is not ripe yet.»

It’s unclear when that time may come, considering that the government has remained shuttered for more than three weeks.

And two weeks ago, Republicans torched Schumer for declaring things got «better» for Democrats the longer the shutdown dragged on, but shutdown fatigue is now setting in on Capitol Hill.

BATTLEGROUND REPUBLICANS HOLD THE LINE AS JOHNSON PRESSURES DEMS ON SHUTDOWN

«Welcome to day 22 of the Democrats’ shutdown,» Johnson declared at the now sonorous daily press briefings delivered by both sides.

«This does suck,» said Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., on Fox Business about the shutdown.

Lawmakers are now seeking shutdown daylight.

«The hope is that we get this shutdown resolved before the end of the month,» Jeffries said.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., expresses hope that the shutdown will be resolved by the end of the month. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

There’s worry about how the shutdown might impact national parks.

«(Here are) the more negative consequences that we’ll start to see without regular staffing. Litter will pile up and park ecosystems will be affected,» said House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman, R-Ark.

Both parties are convinced they’re prevailing in the shutdown.

«What I did hear on our telephone town hall repeatedly (is) ‘Don’t you guys give into these hostage takers,’» said Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho. «I heard that repeatedly.»

«It’s resonating with Americans. What I’m hearing from people in Connecticut is ‘hang tough,’» said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

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The Senate holds a test vote Thursday on a bill to pay essential workers who are on the job without a paycheck, but Democrats are skeptical.

«I’d be in favor of paying the federal workers,» said Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt. «That bill, unfortunately, gives a lot of latitude to the president to pick and choose, or, I should say, (White House Budget Director) Russell Vought to pick and choose (who gets paid).»

So while shutdown weariness sets in, no one knows when it might end.

It is said that knowing what you don’t know actually constitutes true knowledge.

And if no one knows the end of the shutdown, that must mean that everyone is pretty smart.