Document #1010552
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
For information on the treatment of
Communist Party members between 1990 and 1997, please consult
CHL26104.E of 23 January 1997.
No reports of police harassment of members
of the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) and the Communist Party
could be found among the sources consulted by the Research
Directorate.
However, some reports detail clashes and
incidents between the Carabinero police and members of the
Communist Party and the PDC.
Two reports state that violent clashes
erupted outside the Chilean Congress in Valparaíso in March
1998 when Carabinero police intervened to quell protests following
the swearing-in of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet as a
senator for life (IPS 11 Mar. 1998; Telam 11 Mar. 1998).
Both reports state that the Communist Party participated in the
protests and one report adds that Gladys Marin, the party's
secretary-general, "suffered a slight facial injury when police
turned the water hoses on the crowd and threw tear gas canisters"
(IPS 11 Mar. 1998). The Telam report states that Marin
gave a speech during the demonstration critizing the government for
caving into military pressure (11 Mar. 1998). According to the
report, "the demonstrators lit bonfires, lifted barricades, burnt
Pinochet in effigy, and hurled rocks at the police, which responded
with water jets and tear gas." Over 30 people were injured and 174
others were arrested as a result of the rioting in
Valparaíso and Santiago (ibid). Telam also reported
that leaders of the Christian Democratic Party (PDC) in
Valparaíso had had their office broken into by police and
that two of its members were arrested.
More violent clashes erupted between
Communist Party sympathizers and the police near the La Moneda
presidential palace in Santiago on the 25th anniversary of the
military coup (DPA 13 Sept. 1998; Telam 11 Sept. 1998). In the DPA
report, Santiago Mayor Ernesto Velasco is cited as saying that 3
people were killed, 77 others were injured and another 319 people
were arrested. However, Telam reported that 3 people were
injured and only 46 were arrested. As the protesters attempted to
approach the government palace, the Carabinero police used tear gas
and threw water jets (DPA 13 Sept. 1998; Telam 11 Sept. 1998). In
response to the police action, the demonstrators threw molotov
cocktails and rocks (Telam 11 Sept. 1998).
In October 1998, 50 members of the
Communist Party attempted to enter La Moneda Palace to protest the
diplomatic immunity accorded to Pinochet, who was facing house
arrest in London (El Mercurio 20 Oct. 1998). However,
their attempt was twarted by the Carabineros and after "struggling
with police troops" were asked to leave a letter for the Chilean
vice-president (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is
not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any
particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the
list of additional sources consulted in researching this
Information Request.
References
Deutsche-Presse Agentur (DPA). 13
September 1998. "Three Killed and 77 Injured in Allende Anniversary
Rioting: Mayor." (NEXIS)
El Mercurio [Santiago, in
Spanish]. 20 October 1998. "Chile: Coalition Divided Over Pinochet
Case." (FBIS-LAT-98-293 20 Oct. 1998/WNC)
Inter Press Service (IPS). 11 March
1998. Gustavo Gonzalez. "Chile: Protests, Fist Fights Mark
Pinochet's First Day in Senate." (NEXIS)
Telam [Buenos Aires, in
Spanish]. 11 September 1998. "Chile: Riots Take Place in Santiago
on Military Coup Anniversary." (FBIS-LAT-98-254 11 Sept.
1998/WNC)
_____. 11 March 1998. "Chile: Pinochet
Installed as Senator for Life Amid Protests." (FBIS-LAT-98-070 11
Mar. 1998/WNC)
Additional Sources Consulted
Latinamerica Press [Lima].
1998-1999.
Latin America Regional Reports:
Southern Cone Group Report [London]. 1998-1999.
NACLA Report on the Americas
[New York]. 1998-1999.
One source consulted did not provide
information on the requested topic.
Electronic Sources: IRB Databases,
REFWORLD and Internet.