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Violence Erupts at March in Chile

Monday, September 9th 2002 - 21:00 UTC
Full article

Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators Sunday after violence erupted during a march marking the 29th anniversary of the military coup led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet

While most of the 1,500 demonstrators peacefully marched more than 25 blocks from downtown Santiago to the city's main cemetery, small groups of masked youth started throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at stores, bank offices and at police.

As the march went past the presidential palace, which was destroyed by air force jets during the coup, the demonstrators burned a U.S. flag. It was widely believed that the U.S. government and CIA supported the coup.

Among the stores attacked by the demonstrators was a McDonald's restaurant, which was set on fire and had its windows smashed.

The march took place three days ahead of the actual Sept. 11 anniversary. Organizers said they moved the march ahead because, unlike previous years, that date is no longer a holiday. The number of marchers was clearly smaller than in previous years.

The march ended at a memorial wall erected at the cemetery to honor hundreds of victims of repression during Pinochet's 1973-90 rule.

Buried at the cemetery is Salvador Allende, the Marxist president toppled by Pinochet in the coup.

At the cemetery and in nearby streets, some of the demonstrators renewed their violent protests, erecting barricades, and throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails.

Police responded with water trucks and tear gas. Police Col. Jorge Carmona said eight demonstrators were detained. There was no reports of injuries.

Allende committed suicide the day of the coup in his in his presidential palace under heavy attack by the rebellious military.

According to a government report after Pinochet stepped down, 3,190 people were killed for political reasons during his long reign. More than 1,000 dissidents remain unaccounted.

Since civilian rule was restored, several officers under Pinochet have been convicted and served prison terms. But the Supreme Court ruled that the 86-year-old former dictator is physically and mentally unfit to stand trial.

Categories: Mercosur.

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