Military parade in Nogales sparks controversy over Sept. 11 date

A military parade in Nogales has become the focus of intense controversy after the municipality scheduled it for Sept. 11, the date marking 53 years since Chile’s 1973 coup.

The event is part of the celebrations honoring the Glories of the Army. The decision by the Nogales Municipal Council has drawn attention because the parade will take place on a date with deep political and historical significance in Chile.

Army Lieutenant Colonel Rodrigo Parada defended the scheduling after taking part in a flag-raising ceremony outside La Moneda. He said Army units across Chile seek to bring the institution into local communities, including towns whose residents cannot travel to see the main military parade.

Parada said the dates are distributed according to each municipality’s availability. If the event has been coordinated and planned that way, he said, he expects it to proceed without problems.

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All the activities celebrating the Month of the Homeland, organized by units across Chile, seek to move closer to their communities and bring the Army to each municipality and town whose residents sometimes cannot come to see the Grand Military Parade. Therefore, the dates are distributed according to the availability of each municipality. If it has been coordinated and planned that way, I believe it will take place without any problems.