CHILE: Protests, parties after Augusto Pinochet's death in Chile

The body of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, whose government killed thousands during his 17-year-rule, was taken to a military college in the capital Santiago after his death sparked violence, tears and celebration. Pinochet, who polarised Chile during his 1973-1990 dictatorship and spent his old age fighting human rights, fraud and corruption charges, died on Sunday (December 10) . He suffered a heart attack a week ago and, just when he appeared to be recovering, his health suddenly deteriorated, doctors said. News of his death prompted an outpouring of emotion in Chile where, a third of a century after he swept to power, Pinochet's legacy is still hotly disputed. More than 5,000 people took to the streets, the Interior Ministry said. Some mourned a man who they say saved Chile from communism while others revelled in the death of South America's most notorious Cold War dictator. Some demonstrations turned violent, and military police used tear gas to disperse anti-Pinochet protesters who tried to march to the presidential palace, a potent symbol for many Chileans since it was bombed during the 1973 coup which brought the general to power. After the protests ended on Sunday, police said 24 officers were injured, and the interior ministry said several protesters were arrested. Bonfires burned on the capital streets, some of which were littered with rocks, barricades and debris. In a statement, Interior Ministry under-secretary Felipe Harboe called for families to take responsibility for their youths in an attempt to prevent further violent demonstrations. Pinochet's body was driven from the hospital where he died to the military college in preparation for his funeral on Tuesday (December 10). The government, led by President Michelle Bachelet, a survivor of Pinochet's torture chambers, said there will be no official mourning and the former dictator will be given a military but not a full state funeral. "The Chilean government informs that according to the current legal framework, it has been determined that the deceased former general shall receive the honours of a former commander in chief of the Army --according to Army regulations. The remains of the former chief of state will be taken to the military academy where a chapel will be in place until Tuesday when a Mass will be celebrated at noon," said government spokesman Ricardo Lagos Weber. Outside the college, around 600 Pinochet supporters paid their respects as the body was driven past in a grey van with blacked out windows. Many waved red, white and blue Chilean flags and sang the national anthem. More than 3,000 people died in political violence under Pinochet's rule. Some 28,000 people were tortured in secret detention centres and hundreds of thousands of Chileans went into exile, many never to return. Pinochet was accused of dozens of human rights violations -- and more recently of tax fraud and embezzlement related to $27 million stashed in foreign bank accounts. But he was never brought to trial before his death, as his defence lawyers argued he was too ill to face charges.

ITN Source | December 11, 2006

Tags:. .sparked. .tears. .flags. .recovering. .protesters