By Heba Girgis
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America
SANTIAGO, Chile — On June 10, 2012, Chilean police clashed with anti-Pinochet protesters in the streets of Chile’s capital city of Santiago. The demonstration took place outside of a theater that had released a documentary of the former dictator’s life and rule. The mayor of Santiago said that hundreds of anti-Pinochet demonstrators organized in the city and continued to launch what he called “coordinated attacks” in the city’s center hours after the screening at the Caupolican Theater.
In September 1973, Pinochet, a general at the time, led a coup against the current democratically elected president, Salvador Allende. Pinochet remained in power until 1990.
During his reign, the Chilean government estimated that more than 3,000 people were killed, including those whose bodies were never found. Also during his rule, many Chilean citizens were arrested, tortured or exiled from the country. Researches have also documented about 37,000 cases of torture and illegal detention under Pinochet’s regime.
Pinochet, who died in 2006, at the age of 91, was never sentenced for human rights abuses during his rule.
The film, honoring the former dictator, triggered a violent response. Five hundred police officers responded to the demonstrations dressed in full riot gear and equipped with tear gas and water cannons that were used against the civilians. The clash between police and anti-Pinochet protestors lasted about two hours, injuring twenty-two people and resulting in sixty-four arrests.
Regarding the law enforcement response, Mireya Garcia, vice president of the Association of Relatives of Detained and Disappeared (AFDD) said “the police are limiting our activity in order to allow activities in honor of the dictator. This is paying tribute to a criminal.” While, on the other side, supporters of Pinochet’s regime held posters with Pinochet’s photograph and the word “thanks” written underneath.
This controversial event, which brought out both supporters and protestors alike, caused one of the most violent demonstrations in Chile in recent years. Some find that this is a ceremony to honor history, while others bore signs that read “we cannot pay tribute to a murderer.”
Despite the controversial topic of the event and the documentary, the film named after the former ruler and directed by Ignacio Zegers received the prize “Hispana de Oro,” meaning “Hispanic Gold,” at the International Festival of Great Hispanoamerican Film last March.
For further information, please see:
France 24 – Chile Clashes Over Pinochet Tribute Documentary – 11 June 2012
BBC – Chilean Police Clash With Anti-Pinochet Demonstrators – 10 June 2012
The Star – Pinochet Documentary Heats up Chile’s Debate Over Dictator’s Legacy – 10 June 2012
Santiago Times – Chilean Government Will not Stop Screening of Pinochet Documentary – 6 June 2012
