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In Concepcion (center of the country), demonstrators erect a barricade in front of the police, on November 26, 2019. REUTERS / Jose Luis Saavedra

Forty days after the start of a movement calling for urgent social measures, nothing seems to be going to undermine the determination of Chilean protesters who continue to take to the streets. NGOs, including Human Rights Watch (HRW), denounce " serious human rights violations by the police ."

This Tuesday, November 26 in Chile, thousands of people demonstrated again in the streets of Santiago at the call of several public sector trade unions, AFP found. The wave of protest that erupted on October 18 continues in a scenario that has become well-trodden. The days normally begin, then more or less followed gatherings take place in the city center. At the end of the day, there are clashes between the most radical protesters and the police, as well as fires and looting attributed to organized groups of criminals. The shopping centers of Santiago close earlier because of the difficulties of transportation of the employees; the metro still does not work 100% in this capital of seven million inhabitants.

" Excessive use of force "

Human Rights Watch (HRW) director for the Americas, Jose Miguel Vivanco, said he has received hundreds of complaints about " excessive use of force on the streets and abuse of detainees ". Academic Gustavo Gatica lost his sight after being shot by police on 8 November during a demonstration in Santiago, the hospital in which he was treated was said on Tuesday. This is the first demonstrator to be completely blind since the beginning of these demonstrations, and his case has become the symbol of the many wounded in the eyes because of these special projectiles used by the police, which she has committed to abandon. For its part, the Chilean Red Cross said it continued to treat patients wounded by these shots.

Hope for a way out of the crisis

The historic agreement signed by the parties on November 15 on the organization of a referendum to replace the Constitution inherited from the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990) had raised hopes for a way out of the crisis. But the continuation of violence, blockages and demonstrations maintains uncertainty about the movement's evolution. Protesters are demanding the government of conservative President Sebastian Piñera an increase in the minimum wage. Unions are demanding a change from $ 301,000 a month ($ 400) to at least $ 500,000 ($ 625).

" There are long-term demands like the new Constitution by a Constituent Assembly, demands on the right to health, education, a roof, the right to collective bargaining, but also very specific demands: a salary a minimum of 500,000 pesos (...), a minimum equivalent old age , "said Barbara Figueroa, president of the Unitary Workers' Central (CUT), the most powerful union in the country.

The military authorized to intervene?

The government of President Piñera caused an outcry by announcing Monday, November 25, the tabling before Parliament of a bill authorizing the military to protect public infrastructure, without the need to declare a state of emergency. The introduction of this state of emergency in the early days of the crisis had been strongly criticized. The crisis in Chile is the most serious since the return of democracy in 1990. This wave of protest has killed 23 people, including five after the intervention of the security forces, and more than 2,000 wounded.

( with AFP )

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