MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bachelet calls for September 11 peaceful commemoration

A day before the 33rd anniversary of the Chilean September 11 military coup next Monday, President Michelle Bachelet called on all citizens to express their feelings and act “peacefully”.

"We will be commemorating many people who at that time suffered much pain, including the loss of life and I want to make a special call on all Chileans so that in democratic Chile we can commemorate this tragedy in a democratic and peaceful way", underlined President Bachelet.

"This is the best way to honour all those who fought and died fighting for democracy", she added during an official event.

Similarly Interior Minister Belisario Velasco underlined that all participants in authorized marches and rallies must keep to their commitments and do so peacefully. "They've promised us, we believe them but we are going to be alert to any surprise", said Minister Velasco.

"Carabineros (militarized police) has specific instructions to monitor that marches follow normal procedure and that pedestrians and street traffic can move undisturbed along thoroughfares", he insisted adding that if necessary "Carabineros will proceed with the necessary presence and firmness, always trying to avoid violence".

On September 11, 1973 the Chilean Armed Forces under General Augusto Pinochet violently ousted elected Socialist president Salvador Allende. On going repression and an iron fist dictatorship extending until 1990 is alleged to have caused the death or disappearance of over 30.000 Chileans.

September 11 has become a divisive date for Chileans, since for many it was the redemption from "Marxist totalitarianism" and for many others the beginning of a reign of death, terror and persecution.

In spite of the time elapsed and the recovery of democracy, this has repeatedly been evident with sometimes particularly violent and nasty protests leaving people injured, many arrests and much damage to property.