Rallies against Pinochet

Rallies against Pinochet

By Sean Magill

ADELAIDE — Around 100 people rallied outside Parliament House here on October 22 in support of the arrest and extradition to Spain of Augusto Pinochet to stand trial for murder and torture.

Organised by Chileans for Truth and Justice, the colourful rally carried banners and posters calling for justice in Chile, freedom for political prisoners and jail for Pinochet. Activists carried placards with the names of the disappeared.

Paul Petit from Committees in Solidarity with Latin America and the Caribbean reminded participants that dictator Pinochet and his friends live in comfort and luxury while their victims live in poverty and exile. Many are still in jail.

Songs of struggle were sung by Marcel and Christian and poetry from Pablo Neruda was read. The proceedings were rounded off by a rousing chorus of "El Pueblo Unido" led by the Romero Community Choir. For information on further actions phone Jorge on 8449 1128.

On the same day, around 50 people gathered outside the British high commission in Canberra in support of Pinochet's arrest.

In Sydney, around 300 people demonstrated outside the Spanish consulate on October 24 following a smaller demonstration earlier in the week outside the British consulate. The day around 200 people marched to the British consulate in Melbourne.

From GLW issue 338