Chile marks 50 years since the coup that ushered in a brutal military dictatorship

Chile on Monday was commemorating the 50th anniversary of the coup led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet

Chile on Monday was commemorating the 50th anniversary of the coup led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet, which ushered in a brutal military dictatorship that lasted almost 17 years.

The commemoration began with a ceremony at the La Moneda presidential palace, which was bombed by warplanes at the start of the coup.

The military regime led by Pinochet violated human rights and brutally persecuted opponents, imprisoning and torturing thousands who were opposed to the regime. It Ieft a toll of 3,200 killed, including 1,469 disappeared. A half-century later, 297 have been convicted of crimes against humanity and 1,300 cases are ongoing.

U.S. Special Presidential Advisor for the Americas Christopher J. Dodd was leading the U.S. government delegation to Chile, according to the State Department. The U.S. government backed the 1973 coup and the Chilean government is pushing Washingtont to declassify documents that could shed light on the era.

The date is marked by political polarization between the ruling party and the right-wing opposition, due to their disagreements about the roles they played in the coup. President Gabriel Boric described the atmosphere as “charged,” and former President Michelle Bachelet (2006-2010 and 2014-2028) called it “toxic.” In Congress, lawmakers shouted at each other over the issue.

Those divisions spilled into the streets over the weekend, when a peaceful protest by thousands of Chileans to remember those disappeared and killed by the dictatorship was marred by violence. A small group of masked individuals threw rocks at windows.

The violent individuals “tried to break up the protest,” Boric, who had joined the protest, wrote on social media.

“They broke windows and indiscriminately attacked groups and members of political parties.” Boric went on to write that “as president of the Republic, I categorically condemn these acts,” adding that their “intolerance and violence shouldn’t have a place in democracy.”

The violence broke out as numerous polls have shown that a significant number of Chileans think the 1973 coup was justified, and continue to see Pinochet as a good leader who helped to modernize the country.

Boric led the anniversary commemorations Monday with an event in Constitution Square, in front of La Moneda, which was covered by a large tent with over 1,000 local and international guests, including a few presidents from the region. Members of the right-wing opposition, which has been heavily criticized by the president, were notably absent.

The guests included Presidents Luis Arce of Bolivia, Gustavo Petro of Colombia, Luis Lacalle Pou of Uruguay and Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico. There were also Cabinet ministers, lawmakers, representatives of international organizations and human rights groups, among others.

The event began with a piano rendition of the national anthem by the renowned musician Valentín Trujillo. Throughout the morning, many placed large flowers at the statue of the deposed president Salvador Allende (1970-1973), located on one side of Constitution Square.