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“I’m excited, I came on the subway with a lump in my throat: imagine! All this full of women with candles,” one of the thousands of protesters who surrounded the outside of the center told her companion. La Moneda palace on the vigil of the 50th anniversary of the coup d’état Augusto Pinochet.
Dressed in black, with a candle, in silence and with a white sign hanging that said “Never more”the participants formed a line that extended along the Mallthe capital’s main avenue, and which moved towards the surroundings of the presidential building until it completely filled the surrounding plaza.
LOOK: Chile faces divided the 50 years of the coup of September 11, 1973 (and with the figure of Pinochet on the rise)
“The women of Chile, once again, as always, teaching us all a lesson. Never more”, celebrated at the end of the event, on his networks, the Chilean president, Gabriel Boricthe first president born after the military rebellion.
Miriam Astudillo69 years old, arrived with his daughter and sister-in-law at the meeting point: “Every September 11 we remember everything we suffered and that we experienced firsthand with a 20-year-old brother who was detained and tortured for a full month.”. That is difficult to forget,” he told EFE while he follows the queue.
Today’s call, launched by several women’s and human rights groups that grouped together under the platform Women x Never Again, It was the first mass and women-only event to commemorate September 11.
“It is very symbolic to invite women to participate massively during these dates and this has been the great act that has been done outside of March 8 or relevant days for women”Paula Ortega, 26, who attended with her fellow activists from the 8M Coordinator from the town of Melipilla, a rural area of the metropolitan area, told EFE.
“WHEN WOMEN MOBILIZE IT IS INCREDIBLE”
While the women They slowly paraded to their positions, the organization was responsible for remembering that the walk had to be done “in silence and in remembrance of the dead, missing and tortured women.”
The coup began a cruel 17-year dictatorship that left more than 40,000 victims, among them at least 3,200 opponents murdered.
“It is a symbolic way of saying that we are here, facing this horrible moment that I wish had never happened in Chile”commented Rosana Vicentelo, another participant who turns 60 today.
Today’s event exceeded all expectations, both of the organizers and the participants. An hour and a half after the start of the activity, there were still women lining up to stand somewhere on the scene.
“I never thought so many people would have arrived, when women mobilize it is incredible; we want to do something and we achieve it“added Vicentelo.
Since 2018, when in Chili the call took place Feminist Springwith massive protests and takeovers of universities to protest against abuses in educational centers, the movement for women’s rights grew and women usually respond en masse to the main calls, such as the last March 8.
However, despite the large influx, the South American country arrives divided to the commemoration of the 11 of September.
The traditional right, grouped in the coalition Chile Let’s go, announced this week that he will be absent from the official events on Monday, which will be attended by several presidents of the region. They also did not agree to sign a joint declaration for democracy and human rights.
Days before, in Parliament, A representative described the sexual violence suffered by thousands of detainees during the dictatorship as an “urban legend.” According to figures updated by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, 3,399 women declared having been victims of torture between 1973 and 1990, and almost all of them were subjected to sexual violence.
Today’s march culminated with the reading of a manifesto for Never Againwith phrases and ideas associated with the protection of historical memory, democracy and peace: “Never again the end of memory. Never more brothers betrayed. Never again betrayed hearts. “Never again a dictatorship”closed the speech read by the organizations, applauded and celebrated by the crowd.
Source: Elcomercio
I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.
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