Day of the Young Combatant (Spanish: Día del joven combatiente) is an unofficial commemoration day observed annually on 29 March in Chile. It serves as a remembrance of the assassination of brothers Rafael and Eduardo Vergara Toledo, who were killed on that date in 1985 during the military dictatorship in Chile.[1] The brothers were allegedly members of a left-wing, anti-dictatorship insurgent group called MIR.
| Day of the Young Combatant | |
|---|---|
 A poster promoting the commemoration of Día del joven combatiente. | |
| Observed by | Chile |
| Date | March 29 |
| Next time | 29 March 2025 |
| Frequency | annual |
The main objective of this commemoration is to raise awareness about human rights and investigate various cases of extrajudicial killings that occurred during the dictatorship. The day is often marked by acts of violence, including throwing rocks at buildings, vehicles, and the police, as well as fire-bombing using Molotov cocktails. The targets of this violence are not limited to public and government buildings but also extend to private property and commercial enterprises such as electrical wiring and power stations. These actions are sometimes used as a cover for looting and other deliberate violent acts committed by organized groups. Most of the violent protests occur in the Villa Francia neighborhood, located in the Estación Central Commune of western Santiago, where the Vergara Toledo family resided. While some commemorations in Chile involve peaceful marches, the Day of the Young Combatant has gained notoriety for its association with violent actions carried out by masked protesters, leading certain sectors to dub the event as the Day of the Young Delinquent (día del joven delincuente).[2][3][4]
Local media and government agencies typically issue warnings to the public, advising them to stay indoors and expect power outages, especially in the Villa Francia neighborhood.[1] Several institutions, including universities, often end classes early on this day to ensure that students can return home before nightfall when most of the violent attacks occur. Public transportation is also often limited due to frequent attacks on public buses.
Another day in Chile known for its violent tendencies and disruption is September 11, the anniversary of the 1973 coup d'état.
Background
editThe Vergara-Toledo family resided in Villa Francia, a neighborhood known for its strong population and worker organization, as well as notable political activities among its residents. Due to their involvement in community and labor organizing, the family attracted the attention of state agents.[5]
On the afternoon of 29 March 1985, an operation conducted by the Carabineros de Chile (Chilean police) took place at the Las Rejas-April 5 intersection in the Estación Central Commune, resulting in the death of the Vergara-Toledo brothers. Media reports at the time stated that Rafael Mauricio (18) and Eduardo Antonio (20) were students at the Liceo de Aplicación school and the Metropolitan University of Educational Sciences, respectively.[6]
References
edit- ^ a b "Message for U.S. Citizens- Day of the Young Combatant". U.S. Embassy in Chile. 2017-03-22. Archived from the original on 2017-04-27. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- ^ "Ayer fue el Día del Joven Delincuente". Agencia Informativa Orbe (in Spanish). 2007-03-30. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07.
- ^ "Otra tragedia en el Día del Joven Delincuente". Las Últimas Noticias (in Spanish). 2015-03-30. Archived from the original on 2015-06-13. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
- ^ "El día del joven delincuente". La Tribuna (in Spanish). 2015-03-15. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
- ^ "Día del Joven Combatiente: En memoria de Rafael y Eduardo Vergara Toledo". Museum of Memory and Human Rights (in Spanish). 2020-03-29. Archived from the original on 2020-03-29. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
- ^ Mellado, Vicente (2017-03-29). "A 32 años del asesinato de los hermanos Vergara Toledo. El significado histórico para la juventud combativa y revolucionaria". La Izquierda Diario - Red internacional (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2017-04-02. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
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