As Chilean nationals living abroad, we witness with deep concern the unfolding situation in Chile. The legitimate social protest which began on October 14th in Santiago, initially against the fare rise of subway tickets, has turned into a social mobilization of national scope, triggered by the authoritative and repressive reaction from the government of President Sebastián Piñera.

In the last 96 hours, a state of emergency has been decreed in 10 of the 16 regions of the country, and during curfew hours, fundamental freedoms, such as mobility and assembly, have been restricted. The death toll in circumstances of police and military repression and looting officially amounts to 13 people, although the innumerable audiovisual records made public through social media, suggest that this figure could be far higher. 

Finally, on the night of October 20, President Sebastián Piñera addressed the country at a press conference held at a military detachment in Santiago and declared: “We are at war against a powerful, implacable enemy that does not respect anything or anyone, who is willing to use violence without any limits”. These statements, widely rejected by local civil society organizations, perpetuate a response from the Executive branch focused on public order only, labelling our compatriots as criminals, and ignoring true grievances fuelling the protests - inequality and social injustice.

We ask that your organization publicly and vigorously condemns what is happening in Chile. And Demand the dialogue is resumed, in order to end the brutal scenario we are witnessing. We are afraid of an escalation in violence and authoritarian responses, aimed at interrupting the democratic order which has prevailed in Chile since 1990.

Sincerely yours,

Community of Chileans Abroad

(photo credit: @nicole_kramm)