One Killed, 232 Arrested
In Violent Chile
Demonstrations
One person was killed
and 232 arrested in
violent overnight
clashes between Chilean
police and demonstrators
commemorating the "Day
of the Young Combatant",
the country's Vice
Interior Minister Felipe
Harboe said Sunday.
Rene Palma, 26, died of
knife wounds after being
attacked by angry
demonstrators accusing
him of being a police
informant, Harboe said.
He said demonstrators
had been peaceful during
most of Saturday, but
left-wing extremists in
working-class
neighborhoods in the
capital became violent
as night fell.
Police said the clashes
were less serious
compared with previous
years.
Harboe said those who
were caught carrying
arms or Molotov
cocktails will face
charges. Others will be
released after police
checks their identities
and addresses.
The protest was
organized as part of the
annual commemoration of
the killings of two
young leftist brothers,
Rafael and Eduardo
Vergara Toledo, on March
29, 1985, during Augusto
Pinochet's dictatorship.
Chilean President
Michelle Bachelet made
an appeal to avoid
violence during the
scheduled protest.
"There is no reason
whatsoever for
violence," she said.
"The best tribute to the
two slain brothers is to
respect the rules of
democracy."
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