MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

The past haunts Chile: film praising Pinochet triggers violent clashes in Santiago

“Pinochet” examines the Socialist elected government of Allende and maturing of the 1973 coup

Hundreds of protesters clashed violently with police in the Chilean capital as they demonstrated on Sunday against the screening of a new documentary honouring the late dictator Augusto Pinochet.

“Murderer! Murderer!” chanted demonstrators at Teatro Caupolican in Santiago ahead of the screening of “Pinochet,” which celebrates the general's 1973-1990 military dictatorship.

Some protesters wore masks to conceal their identity as they threw sticks and stones at police or set up improvised roadblocks. More than 500 police in full riot gear responded by firing tear gas and water cannons to prevent their advance on the theatre, where a few thousand Pinochet supporters were gathering for the tribute.

Officers charged on protesters. Most ran for cover but some were pinned to the ground and arrested. A few demonstrators attacked Pinochet sympathizers to try to prevent them from getting to the theatre.

The clashes lasted about two hours. Sixty-four people were arrested, and 22 were injured -- 20 police and two demonstrators, the Santiago authorities said.

The screening has triggered a firestorm of controversy, pitting Pinochet supporters claiming the right to free speech against relatives of regime victims who are furious that the event was allowed to proceed.

The government of Sebastian Piñera, Chile's first right-wing president since Pinochet left office, has said it does not support the tribute but respected its right to take place.

More than 3.200 people were killed or disappeared during Pinochet's rule, and researchers have documented some 37,000 cases of torture and illegal detention. Pinochet died in 2006, aged 91. He was never sentenced for rights abuses during his regime.

“Pinochet” examines the political circumstances that preceded the US-supported coup against then-Socialist president Salvador Allende on September 11, 1973. Inside the theatre, more than 2.000 supporters crowded a hall to pay tribute to the former dictator.

Special guests included Miguel Mendez, a grandson of a minister who served under late Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, Jaime Alonso -- a prosecutor in the trial against former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon -- and Cuban youth in exile leader Joseph Torres.

“This is a ceremony to honor history,” said the general's grandson, Augusto Pinochet Molina, the only member of the family to attend the ceremony.