MARTA'S REPORT FROM CHILE
Marta Nunez, FiLiA Latin American Liaison
From Chile, February 2020
Somehow the health crisis going on everywhere has put a stop in so many plans that probably many of us had. In my case, my plan was travelling through Latin America and reporting back to FiLiA UK, my “alma mater”, that gave such an opportunity to be a bridge between my being a Londoner and a Latino woman in the diaspora at the same time.
Fortunately I had planned my visit to Chile in February before restrictions to travelling started in South America.
It’s worth to mention the contrast in the city: being hosted by friends living in the Poniente, (East of the City), the most prosperous area of Santiago, all was calm and serenity, no graffiti, and security in every corner. Everything seems to be unreal compared to the horrific messages in the social networks sent by Chilean groups that I had contacted previously.
The huge social protest that started last year spontaneously vociferous in the centre of Santiago in the Plaza de la Dignidad (Dignity Square) was at the time of my stay, replicated every Friday. So, this was my mission: be part of the protest.
Men and women were participating together, from all paths of life and all ages. It was noticeable that the feminists claims for legalising the abortion, for stopping the violence against women, for stopping the persecution of lesbian women, the protests against the dreadful abuses of the police (“pacos” as they are called in Chilean slang) against women (torture, rape, abuse…) was totally integrated to other claims that involved all the population such as a stop to the crude neoliberalism imposed since Pinochet’s dictatorship, In fact, it was not similar to my ‘70s in Latin America when we women were told that claiming for our rights was ‘anti-revolutionary” because the inequality between men and women was an issue that would be resolved later (my foot!). I got tear-gassed by the “pacos”, I realised that I could no run away as when I was in my 20’s during the Argentinean dictatorship. I was scared. I had forgotten how risky were protests in Latin America with such a poor respect for HHRR.
One of the most perverse attacks from the “pacos” is the attack with plastic bullet in order to blind one eye of the participants. They have done it to thousands that will get “marked” for the rest of their life.
My admiration goes to Chilean people and Chilean women in particular, so resilient, so patient, so firm on the decision that enough is enough. This strong, profound rejection to the coup d‘Etat against President Allende in 1973 that inaugurated one of the most bloody dictatorship in Latin America tells us about the strength of the existing resistance going underground.
What I have heard so far is that the protest continues and that unfortunately the Corona Virus is affecting a country that puts in total evidence the dreadful consequences of neoliberalism in underdeveloped and dominated countries. No health for the poor. No education for the poor. No food for the poor.
Just before my departure I had a warm welcome for the group NiUnaMenos Chile, that were delighted to be visited by a representative of FiLiA UK. I had a deep and frank conversation about the mission and objectives of both organisation. I was pleased to hear from their CEO
“the limit of our solidarity to any cause is when it is being questioned
that women are the focus and the subject of the feminist movement”
NiUnaMenos Chile as organization is relatively new (2016) due to the fact that the hard repression exerted by the State to all claims for social justice for girls and women, and the general hostility towards feminism that anyway always was kept alive by so many brave women.
The 2016 trigger was the femicide of Florencia, a 9-year-old Chilean girl killed by her step-father, that made thousands of women getting to the street and marched in protest.
NUM Chile considers that the State is complicit of the wave of femicides because the judicial system does not act accordingly to the seriousness of the problem and are dismissive of women claims for justice.
During the last couple of months we have been witnessing the impressive impact that the performing group Las Tesis, from the Chilean city of Valparaiso. Their performance and lyrics have been replicated all over the world.
Not long time ago, Piñera their president, was telling that Chile was the oasis of Latin America. All in order, the cities clean and organised, the well-off firm in their position, and all the problems of the poor and the disadvantaged being covered by sending them to reclusive areas, while any possible complaint was viciously repressed. Today Chile is covered by graffiti and a just and cathartic chaos show what the reality is. “Viva Chile!”
Photographs:
Chilean graffiti
Patchwork of the ‘eye’ put together recently by Women and bow being shown in the Museo de la Memoria where they keep the sad memories of the Pinochet dictatorship
Marta wearing a gas mask during the protests