- Title: CHILE: BOY SCOUTS TAKE OVER CAMPS IN PROTEST "COUP"
- Date: 9th March 1969
- Summary: HEADQUARTERS; SCOUTS INSIDE; SCOUTS' LEADERS MEETING; SCOUTING OFFICIALS; BADEN POWELL PORTRAIT. Initials PK/VS/PW/GJB Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 24th March 1969 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SANTIAGO, CHILE
- Country: Chile
- Reuters ID: LVACX22EPCKXUA6YKOC5ZZQBCLG2
- Story Text: ABOUT 30,000 CHILEAN BOY SCOUTS, IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY HAVE TAKEN OVER THE CAMPS AND SITES OF THEIR ORGANISATION AS A PROTEST AGAINST THE ARCHAIC STRUCTURES AND PROGRAMMES OF THE ORGANISATION. IN SANTIAGO, THE COUNTRY'S CAPITAL, ABOUT 60 SCOUTS LOCKED THEMSELVES IN THE ORGANISATION'S NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, AND REFUSED TO COME OUT.
THE SANTIAGO SCOUTS SURPRISED THE NATIONAL DIRECTORATE AT THE HEADQUARTERS AND TOOK OVER FROM THEM.
THEY IMMEDIATELY ANNOUNCED A NEW DIRECTORATE TO CARRY OUT WHAT THEY CALLED A "MOVEMENT OF PROFOUND TRANSFORMATION".
THE AUTHORITIES LATER GAVE THE BOYS 48 HOURS TO CLEAR UP THE HEADQUARTERS AND TO OBEY A CALL FOR WISDOM, OR BE REMOVED BY FORCE.
THE SCOUTS ARE SEEKING REFORMS IN THE ORGANISATION IN LINE WITH THE IDEALS SET UP BY THE INTERNATIONAL SCOUTING COUNCIL EARLIER THIS YEAR. THEY HAVE APPEALED FOR A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COUNCIL TO VISIT CHILE AND ARBITRATE IN THE DISPUTE.
SCOUTING OFFICIALS, LED BY NATIONAL CHIEF SCOUT, SENOR HERNAN TOBAR, AND NATIONAL PRESIDENT SENOR RICARDO ALEGRIA, HAVE DESCRIBED THE ACTION AS AGAINST THE PRINCIPLES OF OBEDIENCE, ORDER AND DISCIPLINE HONOURED BY SCOUTS.
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