Clashes erupt in Chile ahead of coup anniversary

Clashes erupted in Santiago as thousands marched ahead of the 53rd anniversary of the 1973 military coup. The annual demonstration commemorates the overthrow of democratically elected President Salvador Allende and the beginning of General Augusto Pinochet's 17-year dictatorship. Participants gathered for the traditional march, which proceeds from central Santiago to the General Cemetery, burial site of many regime victims. Confrontations occurred between protesters and riot police, who deployed water cannons and tear gas. Several arrests were reported. The 1973 coup, on September 11, marked a violent turning point in Chilean history, ending decades of democratic rule. Under Pinochet's regime, 3,000 people were killed or disappeared, and tens of thousands were tortured or imprisoned for political reasons. The annual marches serve as a crucial act of remembrance for these victims and a demand for truth and justice. This year's mobilization also carried a message against current government policies. Activists denounced recent cuts to public funding for memory and human rights institutions under President José Antonio Kast's administration. They argue these reductions threaten sites dedicated to historical preservation and reparation. The protests also reflected broader ideological tensions in the region, with some participants expressing rejection of recent remarks by figures like Argentina's President Javier Milei regarding Chilean political history. The divisions surrounding the coup's legacy highlight the deep impact it continues to have on Chilean society and politics.