SANTIAGO, (Reuters) – Chilean President Sebastian  Pinera yesterday denied a pardon to people jailed for  dictatorship-era crimes, a move likely to ease tensions with  the opposition and rights groups over a controversial call for  clemency.

Chile’s Catholic Church had asked Pinera to free or lower  jail sentences of military officers convicted for human rights  violations as well as other criminals in a call for clemency to  mark the country’s upcoming bicentennial celebrations.

The pardon request infuriated human right groups and the  center-left opposition, rekindling memories of General Augusto  Pinochet’s 1973-1990 rule that still divides many Chileans.

“Excluded from these (pardon) benefits are those convicted  for serious crimes like crimes against humanity,” Pinera told  reporters. “We need to promote a culture of unrestricted  respect to human rights.”

Pinera, whose brother was a government minister under  Pinochet, said he will still offer pardons to some convicted  criminals who are old or sick “as long as these benefits don’t  hurt the soul of our country.”

Rights advocates said Pinera’s decision was positive,  however, relatives of leftist dissidents kidnapped and jailed  during the dictatorship said they will remain alert for any  future pardons.

“We hope that what he (Pinera) announced today is aimed at  all those linked to human right abuses under the dictatorship,”  said Lorena Pizarro, head of a group of relatives of the  disappeared. “We demand to meet with the 3government to have  absolute clarity about the matter.”