Pinochet opponents clash with police

[seemslikeadream]

Pinochet opponents clash with police

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,20906863-5005361,00.html

From correspondents in Santiago

December 11, 2006 07:49am

OPPONENTS of Augusto Pinochet's 1973-1990 regime clashed with police today in front of the presidential palace during celebrations of the former strongman's death.

The violence erupted when police tried to stop a crowd of more than 1000 people marching down the capital's main avenue, Alameda.

Police blasted water cannons and threw gas canisters to stop the crowd, while demonstrators fired back with stones and bottles

Thousands of people took the streets after General Pinochet died today, waving flags and honking car horns to celebrate what they called Chile's "liberation".

Meanwhile, about 2000 Pinochet supporters, some sobbing, gathered in front of the Military Hospital where he died a week after suffering a heart attack.

The Government of President Michelle Bachelet urged Chileans to demonstrate peacefully.

"We are calling on detractors and supporters who will demonstrate to do it in peace,'' said Interior Ministry Under Secretary Felipe Harboe.

A security plan was in place for reactions to the former general's death, he said.

The Secretary-General of the Government, Ricardo Lagos Weber, earlier said the administration would make sure that "a climate of calm remains in the country".

Gen Pinochet died a week after suffering a heart attack. He will have a military funeral, but Mr Lagos Weber said there would be no state funeral or national mourning.


http://www.tcgnews.com/santiagotimes/index.php?nav=story&story_id=12450&topic_id=1

[IndianaGreen]

1. Flying the flags at half staff for this monster is a disgrace

and a slap at the memory of those that perished under his rule.

Burn, baby, burn!

[Ignacio Upton]

2. Well there are a lot of people who still support that tyrant

So Bachelet, who was TORTURED by this man's agents, has to compromise in terms of symbolism. Notice that Pinochet will get a military funeral but not a state funeral.

[seemslikeadream]

3. his opponents who became the most vocal

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/6167651.stm



But it was his opponents who became the most vocal, taking to Santiago's streets and heading towards the presidential palace in jubilation.

[Say_What]

4. No state funeral for Pinochet

<clips>

...."It has been determined that the deceased former general shall receive the honours of a former commander in chief of the army," government spokesman Ricardo Lagos Weber said.

Gen Pinochet's funeral arrangements presented a dilemma for Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, whose father died after being tortured in a Pinochet prison camp, because so many Chileans feel he was a criminal. Others felt he did great service to the country, saving it from communism.

Ms Bachelet and her mother went into exile after they were arrested and held in an infamous Pinochet-era torture centre.

The army said a Mass would be held on Tuesday for Gen Pinochet, who died in a military hospital, at the Escuela Military school.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20906701-1702,00.html

[Vidar]

5. Viva Bachelet! Piss on Pinochet.