Violent groups are wreaking havoc in La Moneda ahead of the 50th anniversary of the coup

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A group of violent hooded men dressed in black caused damage at Chile’s La Moneda government palace this morning, ahead of Chile’s 50th anniversary of the military coup against socialist Salvador Allende tomorrow. This happened at the traditional march to the General Cemetery, which takes place every year on September 11th and which the government of Gabriel Boric approved to pass next to the government headquarters on Morandé Street, something that had not happened years ago precisely because of an assassination attacks. According to Interior Undersecretary Manuel Monsalve, the men managed to break six windows, scratch two into the walls and cause various damage to the Palacio de La Moneda cultural center, which is located underground. The opposition criticizes the fact that President Boric, who took part in an event in the palace, took part in the pilgrimage, a type of cemetery pilgrimage that always ends in violence. Never before had a leader led this demonstration.

Monsalve reported that the government would file a lawsuit over public unrest and condemned the events: “On September 11, 1973, in this palace, President Salvador Allende maintained his presence as a symbol of the defense of democracy so that it would not be replaced by violence, to which the La Moneda Palace fell victim. “We therefore express the government’s complete rejection of acts of violence that violate and attack the memory that we want to honor during the 50th anniversary celebrations.”

Boric himself declared with them through his social network because I am convinced that we are here today thanks to their tireless fight for truth and justice. We still have a lot to thank them for as a country, and that is the deep meaning of the National Search Plan,” the President said.

The Chilean president referred to the destruction that later occurred at the general cemetery itself: “At the end of this march, small groups of hooded people in black tried to disperse the demonstration. They broke windows and attacked groups and members of political parties such as the Socialusta Youth, the Communist Party and the Social Convergence. They then caused chaos along the way, eventually brutally vandalizing graves in the General Cemetery, including that of former Senator Jaime Guzmán. [el parlamentario de la UDI que murió en un atentado en democracia]Boric wrote. Carabineros later added that the institutional mausoleum was attacked. “We condemn the cowardly attack on the Carabineros Mausoleum. It is an insult to the memory of our martyrs, of the Chileans who gave their lives for the homeland,” said Director General Ricardo Yáñez.

Boric condemned the events: “As President of the Republic, I categorically and without any nuance condemn these events. Their intolerance and violence should have no place in democracy and those who participated in these acts must face the law and the rule of law. His irrational attack on what Allende and so many other Democrats fought for is vile and vile. They are also opponents of democracy and the dissident understanding that we want to build. They do not intimidate us or intimidate us, because there are many more of us who want and will promote social change in peace and dialogue. Democracy today and always!” wrote the Chilean President.

But it received strong criticism from the opposition. The leader of the far-right Republican Party, José Antonio Kast, wrote: “President Boric’s irresponsible whim to take part in the march endangers the integrity of the La Moneda Palace and the carabineros guarding the perimeter.” Those involved in this wrong decision must be investigated.”

The Undersecretary of the Interior, who made a controversial call to citizens this Monday, September 11, not to go to the center of Santiago, said that five thousand officers were deployed to ensure security on these sensitive days. He said it was infiltrated minority groups that marred the march to the General Cemetery. There are three police officers who were injured, one of them from throwing a bottle that cut his hand, and three people who were arrested.

Yesterday evening, Chilean Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren returned to his home in the municipality of Vitacura, east of Santiago, after receiving at the airport the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, his official car was the victim of an ambush (in Chile they called Encerronas). In today’s statement, Monsalve was asked whether the Chilean government was able to guarantee the security of the Mexican president. The Undersecretary of the Interior responded that Chile could guarantee the safety of the invited heads of state and government on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the coup.