Court admits Santiago municipality lawsuits over damage in marches on 1 and 12 October
The Seventh Guarantee Court admitted lawsuits filed by Santiago Municipality over destruction during two demonstrations. The evidence is being passed to the Public Ministry.
Court admits municipal lawsuits over damage in demonstrations in central Santiago
The Seventh Guarantee Court of Santiago declared admissible the lawsuits filed by Santiago Municipality for the destruction that occurred during the marches on 1 and 12 October in the city centre, latercera.com reported.
The legal actions target two separate mobilisations: the student march called by the Confederation of Students of Chile (Confech) on 1 October, and the demonstration on 12 October organised under the slogan of the "Day of the Encounter of Two Worlds" by the assembly "Union of the Peoples 12 October".
Both cases were referred to the Public Ministry for investigation, with the aim of clarifying the alleged facts and determining any potential criminal liability.
Mayor Mario Desbordes, on the eve of the mobilisations scheduled for 18 October—a commemoration of the social upheaval—demanded that the organising groups assume responsibility for the damage caused, and stressed that the right to protest peacefully must coexist with respect for public space.
Incidents on 12 October: 17 detained and damage to infrastructure
According to the municipal lawsuit corresponding to 12 October, the demonstration ended with at least 17 people detained after barricades, graffiti and the throwing of stones, flares and fireworks against Carabineros officers were recorded.
The document also describes the destruction of traffic signs, traffic lights and public transport stops in the vicinity of Universidad de Chile station, where a hammer allegedly was used to damage part of the urban infrastructure.
Student march on 1 October: 31 detained and assaults outside the UC
Regarding the student march on 1 October, the lawsuit specifies that the mobilisation, initially authorised for an estimated gathering of 3,000 people, brought together approximately 6,000 attendees and resulted in a preliminary balance of 31 detained.
The legal action also records assaults suffered by students from Solidaridad UC and the Gremial Movement outside the main building of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. A group of masked individuals attacked the young people with blunt objects, resulting in four students being urgently transferred to Hospital Clínico UC CHRISTUS.
In addition there was an attempted looting of commercial establishments on Paseo Ahumada, which was allegedly prevented by workers at the establishments, as well as reports of intimidation that the Public Prosecutor's Office will investigate.
Damage to historical heritage in the city centre
The municipality also reported deterioration to the historical and urban heritage of central Santiago, including graffiti on the Church of San Francisco and the Fernández Concha Portal, whose cleaning and repair have required municipal resources.
The lawsuits seek to determine criminal liability for all of these acts, while Santiago Municipality reiterates its call to protect public spaces in advance of the next mobilisations on 18 October.
Source: Google News CL — Santiago