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Time Magazine published this Thursday a column by Gustavo Gatica, a young man who completely lost his vision on November 8 after being hit by pellets during a demonstration in Plaza Baquedano, Metropolitan region.
The student began the letter stating that “my life changed completely on November 8 of last year”, after “Carabineros agents shot me in both eyes, leaving me completely blind.”
“Why did they shoot me? For exercising my right to protest ”, reported days after the commemoration of the first year of the so-called social outbreak.
He explained that that day he was participating in a massive demonstration of those that emerged after the increase in the price of transport, specifying that “we took to the streets to change that, to demand more equitable access to health and education, and better pensions.”
However, he continued, “In Chile, claiming your rights always implies a certain level of risk. There is no guarantee that you will return home safely. ”
“When you go out to protest, you go prepared with a helmet and a mask to protect yourself from tear gas. But there is no way to protect oneself from the cannons fired by the Carabineros “, he continued.
Based on the records of the National Institute of Human Rights, it detailed that during the first six weeks of the social outbreak there were at least four deaths at the hands of the security forces and more than 12,500 injured.
He also cited Amnesty International data on 460 cases of serious eye trauma injuries.
In his opinion, “the authorities’ intention was clear: to harm us as punishment for daring to protest ”.
Your recovery
In the column he explained that it has been difficult for him to get used to not having vision. He recalled that the first days it was difficult for him to hold a fork to eat.
“I had to learn all these processes all over again, but over time I am developing the skills that I need to get on with my life. Now I can do things like cook, maybe wrong, but I can do it, and I’m even learning to play the drums and the piano, “he said.
He indicated that the most difficult thing is to go out and use a cane, that the noise and the environment are stressful. Despite this, he said that “in March I went out to protest again in the same square where they shot me. ANDSo it was very important to me and it was moving to feel the affection of the people ”.
Judicial process
Although he indicated that there were many delays in his case, the authorities are currently updating him on the investigation progress.
“There were many delays, but in August, after nine months, Claudio Crespo, Carabinero’s lieutenant colonel, was arrested as the alleged perpetrator. I’m glad that progress has been made and now I’m waiting for justice to do its job and also charge those who allowed the Carabineros to go out to shoot us day after day ”.
He stated that despite the health emergency due to the covid-19 pandemic, “The Government continues to commit human rights violations.”
The student affirmed that the eventual drafting of a new constitution gives him hope that things may change and he believed that it should “be based on the respect and guarantee of human rights.”
He also emphasized the need for a restructuring of the Carabineros. “We cannot allow them to continue hurting us.”
To close, he said “The repression that we have experienced in Chile during the last year must never be repeated.”
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