After the coup 50 years ago against the government of President Salvador Allende (1908-1973), this Colosseum was turned into the largest concentration camp in the country by the Pinochet regime.
“Unfortunately, this stadium is known as a detention and torture center, from here many went to other places where they were murdered or disappeared,” Undersecretary for Human Rights Javier Altamirano told Prensa Latina.
He reiterated that the coup was a tragedy for all of Chile and that it was important to remember the men and women who gave their lives for societal change and legitimate demands and were crushed by state terrorism.
According to reports from various truth commissions, the total number of officially qualified victims of the dictatorship is more than 40,000, including those killed, detained, disappeared, imprisoned and tortured.
According to the President of the Association of Relatives of Politically Executed (AFEP), Alicia Lira, there are still more than 900 disappeared and the families hope to find their whereabouts to mourn and bury them.
When asked about the National Search Plan announced by the government, the activist replied that progress was being made in meetings with the Minister of Justice, which called for the participation of humanitarian groups at the working tables.
The AFEP President also expressed that the commemorative ceremonies aim to justify Allende’s legacy and the advances made during his government such as the nationalization of copper, agrarian reform or a pint of milk for all children.
Several artists and musical groups took part in the event at the stadium, which lasted more than four hours, including Imaginación, La Chimganera, Insobornables, the Duo Coulon-Azán and Pancho Villa.
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