Chile: Insurrectionalists attack Catholic university

The Santiago Times has reported that between 10,000 and 15,000 people attended Tuesday's march in Santiago to protest the Constitutional Court's decision to restrict the availability of the emergency contraception known as the “morning-after pill.” Chilean law bars abortion in all circumstances, even in cases of rape or when the woman's life is in danger.

The following day a bomb exploded in a washroom at the conservative Catholic University of Los Andes in Santiago, where one of the most reknown professors is a member of the High Court.

Responsibility for the attack was claimed by the Federación Insurreccionalista on the internet in response to the criminalization of the morning after pill.

"By the self-control of our bodies we attack all who try to impede it!!!!", writes the federation in their claim. "Priests of theft, church castrating freedom and sexuality, that hides in its holy sepulchers its twisted libido, all will be destroyed!!!!"

Full text of claim in Spanish:
http://www.hommodolars.org/web/spip.php?breve45

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Plan-B supporters detonate homemade explosives at Chilean university

Catholic News Agency

Santiago, Apr 25, 2008 / 02:21 pm (CNA).- A group called the Insurrectionalist Federation has claimed responsibility for an attack on the University of Los Andes in Santiago, Chile in which a homemade explosive device was detonated in one of the bathrooms.

The group in question sent a statement to a local radio station claiming responsibility for the attack as a rejection of the Constitutional Court's ruling to prohibit distribution of the morning-after pill at public health facilities. One of the most reknown professors at the university is a member of the High Court.

The attack occurred at 8:10pm Wednesday, when a large explosion was felt in the women's bathroom located on the second floor of the science building.

The explosion set off the fire alarm in the building, and local police officers evacuated students, professors and administration officials who were in the building.

No one was wounded in the attack but structural damage was caused.

Although most of the Chilean media downplayed the incident, the size of the explosion was significant.

"They said it was a noise bomb but in reality the bathroom was destroyed and if someone had been in there he would have died or been injured," university officials told CNA.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=12461

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CHILE PRO-CHOICE PROTESTS DRAW THOUSANDS

Thursday, 24 April 2008

Actions Come as Legislators Propose Reforms to Constitutional Court

March

Banners praising "the right to decide" called Chileans across the country to a march in protest of the outlawing of the Mornign after pill in state-run clinics
Matt Malinowski, Santiago Times

Thousands of demonstrators marched through Santiago on Tuesday evening to protest the Constitutional Court's decision to restrict the availability of the emergency contraception known as the “morning-after pill.” Labor unions, student groups, and political parties took part in the protests organized by the NGO umbrella organization, “Movement for the Defense of Contraception.”

Earlier this month, Chile’s Constitutional Court reversed legislation mandating the distribution of the pill in public health clinics. The ruling comes in response to a case brought by 36 conservative legislators in March, 2006. They argued that emergency contraception is abortive in nature and consequently violates the right to life enshrined in Chile’s constitution (ST, April 4). Chilean law bars abortion in all circumstances, even in cases of rape or when the woman's life is in danger.

According to police estimates, between 10,000 and 15,000 citizens marched down the Alameda, downtown Santiago's main thoroughfare, between Plaza Italia and La Moneda, the presidential palace. Marchers carried banners and sang chants, calling on the Court judges, the 36 lawmakers, and also the Chilean government to respect women's right to control their bodies. Many protesters expressed outrage over alleged Catholic Church influence in the court decisions, with some demonstrators likening the Court verdict to a crucifixion.

The event also received the support of male citizens, including one group of young men shouting, “If we have sex . . . then we support their (women's) right to choose!”

Chilean media reported smaller marches in twelve cities around the country, including Arica, Antofagasta, Valparaiso, Concepción, Temuco, Valdivia, and Punta Arenas. There were no reports of injuries, though 20 people were arrested in Concepción. In spite of those arrests, protesters who attended the Santiago march described the event as a success.

“The march was tremendously successful,” Party for Democracy (PPD) Dep. Maria Antonieta Saa told the Santiago Times. “It was also quite spontaneous. There was not a lot of notice about this march. Still, the event managed to draw a lot of young people, older women, and also men. The people were clear; they expressed their right (to have access to the pill).

Pill March

Between 10,000 and 15,000 people attended Tuesday's march in Santiago

Matt Malinowski, Santiago Times

“I also think that the marches 'unmasked' the political right. Before, issues such as the pill were not electoral issues . . . , but I think that this march showed that the people will be considering politicians' position on the pill in future elections.”

“This is wonderful. I am so glad that so many people came out,” affirmed Santiago resident Macarena.

The marches took place shortly after Chilean legislators presented three separate proposals aimed at reforming the Constitutional Court. On Tuesday, Socialist (PS) Sen. Alejandro Navarro said he would proposal a constitutional reform to have more equal gender representation in the court.

“Chile has promised international bodies that it would create greater gender equality in organizations linked to the government,” Navarro said. “Still, that court only has one woman judge. Consequently, we are proposing a reform that would mandate that 40 percent (four judges) of the Constitutional Court judges should be women.”

Navarro noted that only two women have ever served on the Court and described the absence of women judges as “feminine under representation.” He also said that his reform would surpass the standards set by the United Nations that recommend a minimum of 30 percent of court judges be female.

“Women have the right to take or not take the 'morning-after pill,' or whatever form of contraception they please, but they need more representation (in government). Having women ministers does very little in that regard,” Navarro added.

Meanwhile, a group of deputies introduced two proposals that would allow court judges to be impeached by people such as the President, regional governors, or army generals. The lawmakers said the bills apply to several types of courts, including the Constitutional, Appeals, and Supreme Courts, and described as unjust Chilean laws stipulating that judges never be removed from their posts.

“This condition can surprise some people because it absolves members of bodies such as the Constitutional Court from political responsibility,” one of the bills read.

http://www.santiagotimes.cl/santiagotimes/2008042413517/news/political-news/chile-pro-choice-draw-thousands.html