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The forecasts were fulfilled and since after eleven in the morning of this Sunday, October 18, 2020, the first people were present to demonstrate in the vicinity of Plaza Italia. On the first anniversary of the social outbreak, with flags and flares, the conflict’s “ground zero” was once again the scene of a massive demonstration, with tens of thousands of attendees. Although, according to the version delivered around 6:00 p.m., Carabineros estimated the summons in the sector at 25,000 people.
During the morning, outside the Universidad de Chile Theater, the Bordando Dignidad Collective was the first to arrive and embroidered a poster with precisely the word that last year renamed the area where the statue of General Baquedano is located. Dignity could be read on a canvas, while the square was guarded by members of the Police Department’s Public Order Control Prefecture (COP).
After hours, the usual cycle ride was also developed in Parque Almagro, heading east, in addition to some activities in the vicinity of the Mapocho river and on the outskirts of the National Library.
Carabineros, meanwhile, announced traffic detours that will be implemented for this day. According to what is indicated by the institution on Twitter, the collective transportation must take Balmaceda, Artesanos and Bellavista. While private vehicles must circulate through Bilbao, Curicó, Tarapacá and part of Avenida Vicuña Mackenna.
Shortly before 11:30 a.m., the Carabineros intervened with water-launchers to disperse the first protesters in the area. But then he chose to withdraw from the perimeter of Plaza Baquedano, replicating the new strategy applied in the sector to avoid confrontation.
During this time, in the absence of uniformed men, the monument to General Baquedano was repainted, which had been repainted early Saturday morning. After noon, the music began to play, and the song “The dance of those who are left over” was heard in the place.
Jadue, the fight of barristas and the burning of the churches
One of the episodes that left the day was carried out by the communist mayor of Recoleta, Daniel Jadue, who came to participate in the commemoration of the first anniversary of October 18, but had to withdraw after being rebuked by some protesters. “I spent more than 1 hour and a half sharing until a truck with people arrived and two people got out to try to insult us and provoke us. I did not react and decided to leave (…). Those who say that we could not reach Plaza de la Dignidad they are lying, “he told Chilevision.
During the afternoon, in addition, there was a fight between barristas from the University of Chile and Colo Colo in the Baquedano monument sector and blocks from the place a fire was registered in the institutional church of Carabineros de Chile located near the San Borja Park, the who had already suffered a seizure in January this year.
The institution reported through Twitter that “individuals set fire to the premises” of the compound and then set up barricades with objects stolen from the place. After 4:30 p.m., Carabineros reported 5 detainees related to these events.
Later, around 7:30 p.m., a mob attacked the Church of the Assumption, taking out religious figures and setting fire to the premises. The flames consumed the building, causing the collapse of the bell tower and almost completely destroying the construction dating from 1876. The site had already been vandalized in a protest last November.
The government watches from afar
While Plaza Italia was getting more and more crowded, the Minister of the Interior and Public Security, Víctor Pérez, together with the undersecretaries Juan Francisco Galli and Katherine Martorell, held a coordination meeting, via Zoom, with all the mayors of the country. To the meeting, telematically, yes, President Sebastián Piñera joined.
The Interior authorities delivered some guidelines and called on the mayors to maintain permanent contact during this day.
The Government reiterated this morning the call to demonstrate in a peaceful manner. Yesterday, Minister Pérez called for “isolating the vandals” in the demonstrations, while Undersecretary Galli said today that “we hope people understand that we are in a completely different context, a context in which an electoral event is one week away. very important for our country; secondly, we are in a time of pandemic, therefore, the call is for prudence and for peaceful demonstrations, “the undersecretary reiterated.
In addition, despite the fact that it was worked on during the week, in La Moneda a possible speech by President Sebastián Piñera this Sunday for the first anniversary of the start of the social outbreak was discarded – for now – However, after 7:00 p.m. it was reported that the President arrived at the Palace to lead a evaluation meeting of the day of 18-O with Interior and the general director of Carabineros Mario Rozas.
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