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From The Socialist newspaper, 6 November 2019
End repression in Chile - freedom for soldier David Veloso
The following statement was issued on 4 November by members of Socialismo Revolucionario, CWI in Chile, and the Committee against repression in Chile
Chile protests 2019, photo Carlos Figueroa/CC, photo Carlos Figueroa/CC (Click to enlarge)
On October 18, the Chilean people began a generalised social uprising, triggered by a rise in passenger transportation in the capital Santiago, and violent repression of secondary students demonstrating against the increase by massively evading payment.
This was the final straw for the Chilean people, after thirty years of abuse and neoliberal capitalism administered by the civil governments that succeeded the Pinochet military dictatorship.
On October 19, President Sebastián Piñera, imposed a state of emergency in the city of Santiago. An army general was placed in charge of the city, and a curfew imposed.
Army on the streets
For the first time since the end of the dictatorship, the armed forces were brought on to the streets to join the police in repressing social protest. This measure was also quickly applied in most regions of the country.
Despite this, the demonstrations were growing in number and size, and people bravely challenged the curfew and repression. Just one week after the popular protest broke out, there was the most massive demonstration in the history of Chile.
On October 25, two million protested in Santiago alone, as well as protests in other regions of the country. Protesters had four demands:
- Removal of the armed forces from the street
- Piñera's resignation,
- Withdrawal from Congress discussion of all laws against the people
- Convening of a constituent assembly to achieve a new constitution that replaces that of 1980 implemented under the dictatorship and still in force
On October 28, Sebastián Piñera was forced to lift the state of emergency and curfew which had not brought an end to the popular protest, despite the serious violations of human rights, the dead, the missing and the injured. On the contrary, the state of emergency and the curfew revealed the inability of the government.
It was in that context that soldier David Veloso Codocedo (21), refused to embark from Antofagasta to Santiago to participate in the repression and threw his weapon to the ground.
The military prosecutor Cristián Ramírez, ordered the arrest of David who, under military law, could even be sentenced to 10 years in military prison. He has been imprisoned since his arrest.
Given this we have formed a committee against repression and consider David Veloso as a conscientious objector.
We request your support for the campaign demanding his freedom by sending letters to President Sebastián Piñera, demanding the immediate freedom of this brave young man.
- You can write to President Piñera through the website: escribenos.presidencia.cl
- Copy your email to contrarepresionchile@gmail.com
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In The Socialist 6 November 2019:
News
Whose side are you on? Tories out - Corbyn in with anti-austerity and socialist policies
Tony Blair launches manifesto to sabotage a Corbyn government
Grenfell fire inquiry spin deflects blame from establishment
General election 2019 round-up
Berlin Wall
Socialism 2019
Elections, strikes and revolutions: Socialism 2019 - daring to fight
PCS: "Under the right leadership workers are prepared to fight"
McDonald's: 'I'm fighting for £15 an hour now because I have to work from 7am to midnight'
Northern Ireland: Uniting the working class to transcend division
Preparing to shape events internationally
International socialist news and analysis
End repression in Chile - freedom for soldier David Veloso
Workplace news
PCS: Pay, jobs, pensions... Vote for a fighting general secretary
UCU votes for pay and pension strikes
Incompetent bosses use tech to bully us
£1 million cuts plan: Peabody housing workers announce strike ballot
Forbo Flooring Derbyshire strike
West Midlands Trains guards to strike
Double-dealing Hackney council bosses face renewed strike action
Minimum wage
Minimum wage debate: what should we be demanding?
Readers' opinion
TV: Crime and Punishment - this brutal watch is a damning indictment of cuts and capitalism
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