“Why did they shoot me? For exercising my right to protest ”: Time Magazine publishes Gustavo Gatica’s column

Thus begins a column published this afternoon by Time magazine. The text is signed by Gustavo Gatica, student who that day, in the middle of a social outbreak, completely lost his sight after being hit by pellets in the middle of demonstrations in the Plaza Baquedano sector.

“Why did they shoot me? For exercising my right to protest ”, the 22-year-old man wonders and answers at the same time, who later recounts the moments prior to receiving the impacts and his perspective on why the protests began in the country in October last year.

“They started because of an increase in the price of public transport, but that was just the trigger after decades of injustice. We took to the streets to change that, to demand more equitable access to health and education, and better pensions, “he explains in the column, entitled “I was shot and lost my sight for protesting against inequality in Chile. We need to continue demanding justice. “

From his perspective, he considers that in Chile “Always involves a certain level of risk” claim for rights.

“There is no guarantee that he 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 police ”.

Gustavo Gatica

Citing data from National Institute of Human Rights (INDH) and Amnesty International, points out that during the first six weeks since the outbreak, 12,500 people were injured, and that at least 460 of them suffered serious injuries to their eyes.

“The intention of the authorities was clear: to harm us as punishment for daring to protest,” he continues.

The difficult part of the process of beginning to live without vision is the following that he recounts, exemplifying with everyday complexities, such as “holding 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 “, Explain.

The hardest thing has been going out and using a cane. It is stressful because of the noise and the surroundings. But in March I went out to protest again in the same square where they shot me. That was very important to me and it was touching to feel the affection of the people. Many people thanked me; it felt strange but nice. Many people have offered me help and we have built a giant network of people. This support and solidarity gives me the strength to carry on.

Gatica says that the authorities have been “updating” him on the progress of the investigations into his injuries, a case for which the former lieutenant colonel Claudio Crespo is formalized and with the precautionary measure of preventive detention: “I am glad that progress has been made and now I am waiting for justice to do its job and also charge those who allowed the police to go out and shoot us day after day ”.

Regarding the government, he says that it “is more concerned about public opinion and pressure from abroad than about its own people” and says that next week’s plebiscite gives it “hope for the future of the country.”