Anger as no blame allotted for Chilean mine collapse
Miners angry at inquiry finding, which comes despite a Chilean congressional commission's ruling the owners were responsible for cave-in
The inquiry into the Chilean mine collapse that trapped 33 men for more than two months in 2010 has ended with no charges filed, a result that drew angry responses from the rescued miners.
The cave-in at the San Jose mine brought the mine's safety record into focus and put mining, Chile's top industry, under close scrutiny.
The decision by a prosecutor in the northern region of Atacama to bring no charges against mine owners Alejandro Bohn and Marcelo Kemmeny, or the Chilean Mining Ministry's regulatory unit, was announced after a three-year investigation.
"This is a disgrace to Chile's justice system," Mario Sepulveda, who became the public face of the miners, said on Thursday.
It's impossible that in an accident of this magnitude no one is held responsible. Today, I want to dig a deep hole and bury myself again; only this time, I don't want anybody to find me
"It's impossible that in an accident of this magnitude no one is held responsible," Sepulveda said. "Today, I want to dig a deep hole and bury myself again; only this time, I don't want anybody to find me."