Chilean protesters want to get rid of Pinochet’s constitution

“Inequality in Chile is very great. There is so much poverty, and basic social services are insufficient,” says Nicole. The message of the demonstrations is clear, she says. “Basta, enough is enough, now something has to be done, people want a more dignified life.”

A new constitution should make that possible, Nicole explains. She sees the current constitution as a major cause of many of the problems. “A new constitution is a step in the right direction, but certainly not a definitive victory,” she says from behind her face mask.

Lost eye

The corona pandemic brought an abrupt end to the major protests in the square. There has been a curfew in Santiago for months: after 11 pm you are only allowed to go out on the street with special permission. Officially because of the quarantine, although evil tongues claim that the government is also using curfew to stop a massive resurgence of protests.

During the day, quarantine measures are not very visible in the square popularly known as Plaza Italia, sometimes also as Baquedano Square and now as the epicenter of the demonstrations. Nicole has a meeting with two friends, whom she met in the hospital.

Both men got rubber bullets in the face, just like Nicole. One of them lost his eye. “The other was hit exactly a year ago, there on the bridge. Today we are going to commemorate that,” she explains.

‘All terrorists’

The group has only just arrived when a disturbance starts further on in the square. The riot police deploy a water cannon, a cloud of tear gas hangs in the distance. Nicole’s hands are shaking, she’s nervous. “I only went back to the square for the first time last week. I really didn’t dare to do that before.” A detainee is taken away, bystanders shout at the officers. “I want to get out of here,” says Nicole. Our interview is over before it really started.

Peace returns, but just like the stinging smell of the tear gas, the tension lingers over the square for a while. The evening rush hour traffic swarms around the roundabout. From her car a woman in a traffic jam approaches us. “They are all terrorists,” she says, pointing to a group of boys shouting slogans at the police.

This lady will soon vote against a new constitution, she says. According to polls, she is in the minority: two-thirds of Chileans seem to agree with the plan to draft a new constitution.

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