In light of all the recent Hydro Asyen protests here in Santiago, I thought I would dedicate today’s memory to being tear-gassed. Since last Monday night, there have been wild and violent protests against the new law that passed, giving the go ahead for the government to enter the pristine Patagonia area of Asyen and build dams for energy. I may like marches, but protests are a different thing: my one and only time of covering one ended up with me holding my eyes and screaming in the street that I couldn’t see, and that possibly–dramatic as it now seems–I would never be able to see again.

Tear gas is a horrible thing.

The thing is, I get being angry over something, and I respect whole-heartedly the freedom of speech and demonstration, but once violence is involved, I believe the voice and cause lose a bit. I mean, I’ve witnessed angry youth throwing rocks at policemen, people starting fires in the street and even, as you’ll see below, a squad car destroyed. It just seems so counter productive. Moreover, those who generally participate, are rebellious youth, whom I’m not even sure are as concerned about what their fighting for, as just being a part of it. It’s cool to protest, it’s cool destroy in the wake of your “anger.”

The bottom line though, is that 75 percent of Chilean towns are protesting this law. It’s sad to see the government do something against the majority´s will. They say it´s for the best, which promises lower energy costs. I just hope that what this makes this country so unique—it´s beautiful, untouched, not-yet-destroyed lands, dubbed an “eco-gem”—doesn´t take a blow, which according to the protestors, is exactly what´s going to happen.

Tear Gassed

Saturday, August 15, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mayhem filled the streets near Los Héroes metro station Friday night during a Mapuche Protest in remembrance of Jaime Mendoza Collío. Collío was a Mapuche recently shot in the back by Chilean policeman Patricio Jara Muñoz.

The Mapuche are Chile’s largest indigenous group, and seek liberation from the government. United Nations member Rodolfo Stavenhagen describes, “The present situation of indigenous people in Chile is the outcome of a long history of marginalization, discrimination and exclusion, mostly linked to various oppressive forms of exploitation and plundering of their land and resources that date back to the sixteenth century and continue to this day.” It is a complex issue that I cannot speak on, but I can say from being at the protest it is something that people feel very strongly about here.

Now, I’ve covered protests before, but none like this. First of all, it was supposed to be a demonstration, which the police never allowed to begin, hence the wild night of protest and in some cases extreme acts of violence.

I’ve never ran faster or harder than I did last night trying to avoid the mass spraying of tear gas. Unfortunately I was not able to avoid it, and tears streamed down my face while my nose felt as if I would never be able to breath again. Hours later I was still sneezing and coughing on the brink of tears. It was absolutely insane, and for the most part if I wanted to cover the action, unavoidable. I’m currently in the market for a gas mask.

I think the pictures tell the story best: