MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Protests mark Chile's September 11 commemoration

Chile's commemoration of the September 11 military coup thirty three years ago was marked with rioting, damage to private property, a fire bomb against Government House and at least 79 arrests, according to the latest report from Santiago's police.

Hooded protestors on Monday attacked police forces with stones, bottles and other objects in the vicinity of the Santiago University Campus and later took refuge in the University grounds.

When protestors refused to dialogue with Carabineros, the Dean of the University allowed riot forces to move into the campus and make the arrests plus requisition of knives, slings, bottles filled with paint and gauntlets. Police appealed to water cannons, tear gas motor bikes to restore order in the University grounds.

In another incident on Sunday a group self identified anarchists set on fire with an incendiary bomb a window from Government House (Palacio de la Moneda) causing flames and smoke to fume from the building for the first time since September 1973 when it was bombed by the Chilean Air Force and stormed by the Army.

But while this was happening thousands of Chileans peacefully recalled Socialist president Salvador Allende --who was violently ousted by a military coup, headed by General Augusto Pinochet--, and the victims of the 1973/90 dictatorship that followed.

"Thirty-three years after the coup we are here to pay respects and acknowledgement to all those who lost their lives on that occasion and also during the struggle to rebuild democracy in our country," said Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, after attending Mass at Government House together with relatives from former president Allende, political leaders, members of Congress and cabinet ministers.

Following the mass Socialist president Bachelet placed a red carnation and a plaque on the spot inside La Moneda where Allende committed suicide as soldiers were storming the palace on September 11, 1973.

"This new September 11 gives us cause to reflect. With memories still fresh of what happened 33 years ago we are convinced that it's crucial to keep struggling so that Chile has a stronger and stronger democracy", said Bachelet.

Chileans are striving to create a country "where each of us can enjoy a better life, a country that is more humane, more fair, more united; those who lost their lives (in La Moneda) died fighting for those principles" underlined the Chilean president.

Bachelet also condemned the fire bomb attack on Government House, La Moneda.

"National symbols such as the flag and La Moneda are also symbols of democracy that belong to all of us. No one has the right to attack La Moneda. La Moneda symbolizes the struggle of many Chileans to recover democracy" highlighted Bachelet.

"Seeing La Moneda in flames like 33 years ago" is something that must not be repeated she said emphatically with emotive intonation.

The attack by the masked group had a strong impact on Congress member Isabel Allende, daughter of the late president, who was together with her father for several hours at the seat of government exactly 33 years ago when the military coup begun.

"I never thought I'd again see fire at La Moneda. I don't know who these people are. They don't represent us. I repudiate them," she said.

This year for the first time the Chilean Army did not hold an official ceremony on the anniversary, although in past years it had been customary to salute former dictator Pinochet at his home with a parade and promises of unquenchable loyalty.