AMERICA/CHILE-The Church of Aysén denounces the use of violence against young people who were demonstrating peacefully in front of the Cathedral

Aysén (Agenzia Fides) - The Church of the Apostolic Vicariate of Aysen, through the General Vicar, Father Ivo Solarino, condemned the police's attempt to burst into the Cathedral of Coyhaique, and the use of force and violence in a sacred place . On Friday, May 13, a group of youths entered the cathedral for shelter from the jets of water by the police, after a peaceful demonstration held outside the sacred place. The police tried to burst into the Cathedral chasing the youth. It must be pointed out that in these last few days several groups of people are demonstrating against the construction of dams in the area of Patagonia.
As the priest explained, historically, churches and chapels of the Catholic Church have always been places where you welcome and protect those who come to seek help, because inside the church there is a breathe of “peace, acceptance and serenity " . In this sense, the Archbishop said that "violence cannot enter a sanctuary."
One of the witnesses of the accident, the diocesan priest Father Jose Barria, noted that young people were demonstrating peacefully outside the Cathedral, when suddenly the police came to disperse them with anti-demonstration cars, throwing liquid on the facade of the church and wetting the young people who had gathered there with violent jets. Shortly after a group of police tried to enter the Cathedral, but were stopped by father Solarino, father Barria and by other faithful. "They tried to take the young people with violence, then they withdrew. We had to close the doors to keep the police out " said Father Barria. The priest added that it is the first time that an event like this happens in the region, with the police who burst into the house of God to chase the demonstrators away.
The note sent to Fides by the Chilean Episcopal Conference reports that the General Vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of Aysén is awaiting a meeting with the colonel of the police, in order to examine what happened and the way in which police officers acted by attacking the demonstrators and the House of God. Father Solarino underlined the importance with regards to the respect of the right of every citizen to express their agreement or disagreement on certain aspects, always avoiding any form of violence. Today, 17 May at 18.15, there will be a symbolic act of remedial and prayer so that this kind of violence is never repeated again. (EC) (Agenzia Fides 17/05/2011)