Santiago under curfew

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Larry B.
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Re: Santiago under curfew

#61 Post by Larry B. » Sun Nov 17, 2019 5:05 am

Yesterday, a university study confirmed something that the state was lying about and that we all knew: the “rubber bullets” they are using are 20% rubber and 80% various metals, including lead.

Demonstrations haven’t ceased at all, which is great.

And two nights ago, during a demonstration a guy suffered a heart attack. He was being attended to by the red cross and the police shot tear gas and pellets at the red cross, injuring one of them and (obviously) disturbing the CPR they were giving to this person. After that, they shot a few more tear gas cannisters and used a water cannon against them, and then they moved away. The guy died. The next morning, the National Doctors Association denounced this (and sued the state, I think) and demanded answers and decisions about this. They also announced that they won’t stop their duties.

I’ll be back on the streets tomorrow.

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Mescal
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Re: Santiago under curfew

#62 Post by Mescal » Mon Nov 18, 2019 11:20 pm

Djiezes.

Fuck man!

Keep up!

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Larry B.
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Re: Santiago under curfew

#63 Post by Larry B. » Sun Nov 24, 2019 8:29 am

I went to the protests on Thursday and Friday. After a university found out and denounced that the “rubber bullets” the police were shooting were 80% metal, they kept using them... until around Wednesday or Thirsday. On Friday, I only heard 2 or 3 shots (against the dozens of shots we received on the weeks prior.) Instead, they are shooting most of the tear gas cannisters directly into people’s bodies or faces. I was fortunate enough to evade one that would’d hit me on the hip, and one bastard cop shot one at a children’s face from about 15 yards. The kid was quickly attended to by first aid and those cops were showered by stones and had to retreat.

Friday was beautiful, again. Hundreds of thousands of people out in the streets, demanding the resignation of the dictator and more dignity for everyone.

Amnesty International released a report this week, condemning the use of excessive force and concluding that the regime had used a policy of punishment aganst civil descontempt (and obviously mentioning that there had been systematic HR violations.) The regime swifty rejected the report, claimed that AI hadn’t even attempted to meet with them (which they did) and then claimed that AI’s request had gotten lost in the midst of this social chaos. Finally, they claimed AI had been one of the organisations who started all this upheaval.

The UN mission that came to check on the HR status of things also left and should have a report ready soon, which is expected to be condemning.

Oh, and after AI’s report, the army and the police published press releases rejecting the report’s claims... which they’re not allowed to do AT ALL according to the constitution and other laws (these organisations shouldn’t take part of any political discussion, in theory.)

Anyway... I feel a bit like in the eye of the storm. This situation could end up with an actual improvement to our lives, or it could end up in a full-on coup with hundreds of political dissidents dead. The margins are quite narrow.

Have a lovely week, people.

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Larry B.
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Re: Santiago under curfew

#64 Post by Larry B. » Sun Mar 08, 2020 5:45 pm

Today, around 1.5 million women demonstrated all over the country. It was beautiful. That’s around 9% of our population. Unbelievable.

In other news, in about 40 days we will vote as to whether we want a new constitution (this vote is predicted to be a landslide for YES) and whether we want it to be written by politicians + a group of elected or only by elected representatives.

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Larry B.
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Re: Santiago under curfew

#65 Post by Larry B. » Sat Aug 01, 2020 6:46 am

Last night, our “president” gave his yearly public account. His popularity is awful, and basically everyone hates him and knows he’s the worst fuckup since the end of Pinochet’s dictatorship.

A few hours before his public account, he pardoned two human right criminals who had been condemned two years ago. It was an outrage.

So, people demonstrated in their houses by clanking pots or went outside to chant against him (while clanking pots). The fucking military arrived at a public square I was near to, and they just started ‘walking around’ in the middle of the crowd, holding their AK-47s or whatever weapon that is, just waiting to be attacked in order to retaliate.

After about 10 minutes, they left.

At exactly the same time, this “president” was talking about his government’s commitment to human rights and all that shit.

They really want to keep killing their own citizens.

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Larry B.
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Re: Santiago under curfew

#66 Post by Larry B. » Wed Aug 19, 2020 6:43 am

Today, it was revealed that during the first two weeks of last year’s protests, the police shot over 104,000 rounds with their shotguns (each round containing 12 pellets, if that’s the right name).

Crazy.

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Larry B.
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Re: Santiago under curfew

#67 Post by Larry B. » Sat Oct 24, 2020 5:16 am

Larry B. wrote:
Sun Mar 08, 2020 5:45 pm

In other news, in about 40 days we will vote as to whether we want a new constitution (this vote is predicted to be a landslide for YES) and whether we want it to be written by politicians + a group of elected or only by elected representatives.
After having this referendum postponed due to covid-19, we will vote tomorrow. YES is still widely expected to win, but less so than in March. We’ll see.

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mockbee
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Re: Santiago under curfew

#68 Post by mockbee » Sat Oct 24, 2020 7:29 am

Larry B. wrote:
Sat Oct 24, 2020 5:16 am
Larry B. wrote:
Sun Mar 08, 2020 5:45 pm

In other news, in about 40 days we will vote as to whether we want a new constitution (this vote is predicted to be a landslide for YES) and whether we want it to be written by politicians + a group of elected or only by elected representatives.
After having this referendum postponed due to covid-19, we will vote tomorrow. YES is still widely expected to win, but less so than in March. We’ll see.
That's cool, that it's expected to pass.

Could you clarify your statement about elected reps vs politicians deciding on the constitution. I assume you want elected officials writing it? Who are the "politicians"? Just people appointed by the current president?

:wave:

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Larry B.
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Re: Santiago under curfew

#69 Post by Larry B. » Sat Oct 24, 2020 9:08 am

There are two options: “constitutional convention” or “mixed council.”

A constitutional convention would mean that there would be a specific election to pick these representatives. Quotas are still being discussed, but a gender quota and a native people’s quotas are expected to pass. Basically, anyone (except for current senators, ministers and other politicians) can run for this election.

A mixed council would be composed 50% by current senators and 50% by representatives elected as mentioned above.

Any of these entities would also be assisted by people who would actually put their decisions into writing. At the end of the process (which would probably take 2-3 years), there would be another referendum as to weather we (the people) approve of reject the new constitution.

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Larry B.
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Re: Santiago under curfew

#70 Post by Larry B. » Sun Oct 25, 2020 9:35 am

Went to vote, and it was beautiful.

Early reports suggest that the turnout is going to be ridiculously high.

We already have the referendum results for New Zealand, Australia and Japan, with an 87%+ result for a New Constitution.

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Larry B.
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Re: Santiago under curfew

#71 Post by Larry B. » Mon Oct 26, 2020 5:56 am

We fucking won: 79% vs 21%.

The option to NOT scrap the constitution only won in 3 communes, the exact communes where everyone knows the power is concentrated. The wealthiest communes by far, where everyone from the top 0.01% lives. It's amazing.

It's a small step for this young country, but a very good one. If everything goes well, in a couple of years we will have the first democratic constitution Chile ever had, voted by a council made up 50% by men and 50% by women (a first in the world, I think).

Yesterday was a very good day. We waited for the results with some friends at our house and there were laughs and tears. Some of them were concerned that we would lose. I expected a 75/25 result but was concerned that it would be a closer victory, like 55/45.

We celebrated with beer, Irish whisky, weed, tea, chips, calamari, and even scrambled eggs. And then we went to the Plaza Italia, the core center of our demonstrations and where hundreds of people lost their eyes and even their lives; where underground some of them were being tortured. We will never forget that.

Today, I'm shattered.

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mockbee
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Re: Santiago under curfew

#72 Post by mockbee » Mon Oct 26, 2020 7:44 am

Congrats! :thumb:


:cool:

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perkana
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Re: Santiago under curfew

#73 Post by perkana » Wed Oct 28, 2020 7:39 pm

Acá nos dio muchísimo gusto la noticia. Primero Bolivia, y luego ustedes. ¡Abrazos!
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