Cleaning the tomb of the unknown soldier with seven conversations, January 18, 2020, Plaza Baquedano. Santiago de Chile.

The unprecedented protester violence and destruction of the Chilean urban insurrection began on October 18, 2019 with the arson attacks on 20 metro stations in 6 hours in Santiago, the capital city. This terrorism’s epicentre was Plaza Baquedano, now called Ground Zero. After two months of incessant violence and destruction, the material damage was estimated at $US 106 million (not including the Metro of $US 350 million). In Plaza Baquedano are Metro Baquedano and the Monument to General Baquedano with the tomb of the unknown soldier. The Monument was constantly attempted to be toppled and the tomb made a permanent protest pyre. On January 18, 2020  I decided to clean the tomb’s bronze plaque to reveal the embossed text for anyone who could read. I had 7 conversations. 1. Carabineros (Chilean Police) checked my Chilean ID and we talked about the monument.  2. A woman with two children asked, "do you know where’s Matapaco shrine?” (Matapaco means Cop Killer and is the protesters’ mythical mascot dog). 3. Two female Basque tourists talked about protest. 4. Two North American tourists had a Chilean guide who cynically told me that "things can be replaced ..." and I finish his protest slogan for him with "but people can't." 5. A Chilean Father and son read "here is a soldier who fought with General Baquedano and triumphed”. 6. Chilean males approached and threatened me that “March will be hell” without knowing we were on COVIDs threshold. 7. Chilean National Council of Monuments (CMN) representative asked me to stop cleaning because the plaque is heritage listed and protected. CMN removed General Baquedano’s statue on March 15, 2021 to protect it. Its empty plinth and tomb are protected by a 3-meter-high welded metal cube able to withstand the impact of a vehicle travelling at 80KM/H.