The government confirmed that there have been no applications for authorized marches for this Sunday, October 18, which marks seven years since the social unrest of 2019. Santiago Governor Claudio Orrego warned that those who damage public infrastructure will be pursued.
According to BioBioChile, this will be the first commemoration of the date since José Antonio Kast assumed the presidency. La Moneda expects a normal day, despite calls circulating on social media.
Máximo Pavez made the announcement. BioBioChile identifies him as acting interior minister, while ADN Radio describes him as undersecretary of the interior. "There have been no applications for authorized marches for Sunday," he said after speaking with the metropolitan presidential delegate, Germán Codina. He added that the government's aim is for the day to proceed normally.
Calls to gather have been issued. The Coordinating Assembly of Secondary School Students (ACES) called on its supporters to gather from 14:00 at a secret location. The "Great March of Chile" set its meeting point at Plaza Baquedano from noon.
The "We Are All" march, organized by the Class-Based Workers' Confederation, is scheduled for the same time. Its meeting point is on the Alameda, near Universidad de Chile Metro station.
According to ADN Radio, the government ordered increased security at various locations in the capital, including the Santiago Metro and police stations. In addition, all Carabineros Public Order Control personnel will remain confined to barracks throughout the day.
Pavez said officials are watching for any incidents that may occur. He explained that internal coordination is aimed at closely monitoring this date, as it does others.
Orrego clarified that public order is the responsibility of the presidential delegate. His focus is on the Alameda, which he described as a flagship project carried out with municipalities, featuring a new Plaza Baquedano, new monuments and painted facades.
The thoroughfare was the epicenter of the 2019 protests and suffered severe deterioration at the time. The governor therefore called for respect for "what belongs to all Chileans".
"We are going to be quite relentless," Orrego said. He specified that this includes pursuing those who cause destruction and protecting the investment made to restore the city. The sources do not specify the amount of that investment or the number of personnel deployed for Sunday.
