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At 02:00 hours this Friday, and among military honors, the “temporary” removal of the iconic statue of General Manuel Baquedano was completed., located in the square that bears his name in the center of Santiago and the epicenter of the protests that began in October 2019, due to the constant acts of vandalism that have affected it.
The transfer of the heavy sculpture, built in bronze and that presides over the rotunda since 1928, will be only for restoration, as determined on Wednesday, in its plenary session, the Council of National Monuments (CMN), a state technical body responsible for the protection of the country’s cultural heritage.
A crane lowered the statue from its base, tied up so that it did not suffer any kind of damage, and deposited it in a truck to be transferred to a warehouse under strict security measures.
The removal work, by CMN officials and carried out under the watchful eye of Army personnel, caused a series of traffic cuts in the sector.
Now: The Monument of General Baquedano is removed to be restored. Army personnel honored with a touch of bullseye. #CooperativeInHome pic.twitter.com/u5xDeETEvj
– Felipe Cofré (@_felipecofre) March 12, 2021
Now: The work of the National Monuments Council staff begins on the statue of General Baquedano for its temporary removal. #CooperativeInHome pic.twitter.com/ma9Yqr9wN3
– Felipe Cofré (@_felipecofre) March 12, 2021
The carving honors Manuel Baquedano González (1826-1897), military and politician who was provisional president of the country between August 29 and 31, 1891 and commander-in-chief of the Army during the War of the Pacific (1879-1884), which pitted Chile against Bolivia and Peru .
At its base, the monument houses the tomb where the remains of the “Unknown Soldier of the Fatherland”, found on the battlefield.
The CMN approved, by a majority of the plenary session, the temporary removal of the equestrian sculpture to General Baquedano “in the shortest possible time” as a “preventive measure and in order to carry out conservation and comprehensive restoration work on the piece. This measure is based on the structural risk presented by the sculpture today, which could put people’s safety at risk “.
“Likewise, it was agreed to carry out actions to protect the tomb of the ‘Unknown Soldier’ ”says the ruling.
In third and fourth place, the CMN settled “carry out protection and reinforcement works for the stone pedestal or base” and determined that, “in the intervening time, the greatest possible police protection will be requested to ensure the integrity of the monument “.
In the middle of the operation tonight, a Carabineros official guarding the perimeter was run over on Avenida Vicuña Mackenna by a driver who, in the middle of the curfew hours, was fleeing from Investigative Police (PDI) personnel.
The official was taken by ambulance to the institutional hospital and the person responsible was arrested.
In the vicinity of Plaza Baquedano, a driver ran over a policeman who was guarding the perimeter on Av. Vicuña Mackenna. The person was detained by PDI personnel. #CooperativeInHome pic.twitter.com/jNFnshqfjt
– Felipe Cofré (@_felipecofre) March 12, 2021
ATTACKS
It should be remembered that on Friday, a group of hooligans piled tires on the baI know about the monument and they set them on fire, covering the statue of General Baquedano with flames Until approximately half an hour later, the Carabineros dispersed those present and with a water-launching car put out the fire, which could be seen live on social networks.
The Army harshly criticized the perpetrators of the burning, calling them “misfit cowards” and “anti-Chilean”, and reiterated his call for the monument to be moved to another location, while the State Defense Council (CDE) filed a complaint against those responsible for the crime of qualified arson.
The most recent episode of vandalism against the statue occurred on Monday, as part of the International Women’s Day march. The demonstration took place in a family and festive atmosphere until 6:00 p.m., when the militarized police broke in with tear gas and water carts after they a group of hooded men tried to cut off the legs of the sculpture’s horse.
For this last case, the Eastern Metropolitan Prosecutor’s Office formalized on Tuesday Andres Saez, charged with the crime of damage to national monuments, in a consummate degree, before the Eighth Court of Guarantee of Santiago. At the hearing, the defendant was left with Monthly signature before the 33rd Police Station of Ñuñoa, national roots and prohibition to participate in demonstrations at the scene of the events.
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