Chile remembers 48th anniversary of military coup against Salvador Allende – telam

Salvador Allende. Photo: archives.

In a pre-electoral environment of great political polarization and with a new Constitution on the horizon, the Chileans commemorate this Saturday with various acts the 48th anniversary of the coup against President Salvador Allende, who died in La Moneda, seat of government, in full bombardment.

The date commemorates the military uprising led by General Augusto Pinochet, the main leader of a dictatorship that rules with an iron fist. the country until 1990.

Major Chilean newspapers like El Mercurio, La Tercera and others focus their information on another anniversary, the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon, and although no official act has been announced, it is expected that as every year in the western sector of the capital and in several cities of the country, multiple acts, demonstrations and tributes are organized.

Between them, and under the motto “For the construction of a country with historical memory and respect for human rights“, the University of Chile, through the vice-rector for extension and communications, remembers those who have been victims of state terrorism.

“Salvador Allende represents, in Chile and in the world, a way of living politics, this idea of ​​sacrifice brought to its maximum expression”“

Marco Enrquez-Ominami

In a conversation with Tlam, the political leader and founder of the Puebla group, Marco Enrquez-Ominami, underlined that “Salvador Allende represents, in Chile and in the world, a way of living politics, this idea of ​​sacrifice carried to its maximum expression, someone who was ready to sacrifice everything for the poorest. “.

The benchmark of The Progressive Party of Chile said that Allende “made probably the most important reforms in our history in terms of copper, of our mining company, in the exercise of power in a country with enormous poverty, enormous numbers of people. poor”. and that is why “today he is a symbol, not only for those who knew him, for those who lived his government, but even for the young people who demonstrate in the streets”.

Meanwhile, Pinochetist groups have called on the provincial delegation from the city of Linares, 290 kilometers south of Santiago, to meet tomorrow in the controversial “Augusto Pinochet” square and to celebrate the 48th anniversary of the coup. .

In parallel, the former mayor and deputy of the Socialist Party (PS) of Linares, Carlos Villalobos indicated that at noon this Saturday they will meet in this same place to remember the missing detainees.

In the northwest corner, there is a monolith that commemorates the victims of the dictatorship.

The electoral context

The Constituent Assembly is working on the drafting of a new Constitution. Photo: AFP.

The country will remember this date in full political polarization, a little more than two months before a presidential election where progressive forces united around the candidate Gabriel Boric, of the left bloc I Approve Dignity (which claims the legacy of Allende) it comes carried by good results in the primaries.

Another polarizing factor is produced by the Constituent Convention, which after a resounding citizen demand expressed in the social outbreak that began in October 2019, is working on the development of a new Constitution. to replace that imposed by dictator Pinochet during his de facto government.

During a week full of symbolism, the municipal council of the municipality of Santiago de l’Estacin Central approved this week the name change of current Ecuador to “Avenida Vctor Jara”, in honor of the iconic musician assassinated by the dictatorship a few days after the coup.

The section which will be renamed in honor of the murdered musician passes through the facade of the University of Santiago where he was arrested.