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On October 18, 2019, it will remain in history as the day when the Government of Chile was put in check by a social outbreak that had been incubating for a long time. Government will be remembered for its remoteness, its insensitivity and sneer, when what was needed was dialogue and political management (which is what is expected of a politician). Detonating is not the evasion of the Santiago Metro and its unprecedented destruction. Nor burning and systematic looting, curiously, well organized. The spark is the constant mockery towards a people of their own "public servants", a kind of political plutocracy obscured by the pleasure of their comfort, encapsulated in a bubble that begins to burst bursting with the indolence of those who forget their work and the social rights that they must represent, propose and direct. That, finally, it is not more, nor less, than for what they were elected with the vote of the popular representation. Remembering, incidentally, that it is part of their obligations as public officials.
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It frightens the context, the consequences of the explosion of that bubble. And it is inevitable to add to the indignation of thousands that we see, with some astonishment, as a weak administration does not find the paths of dialogue, nor the minimum political art necessary to overcome a crisis that they themselves ignited with untemplated statements and empty speeches. Policy that experts should handle perfectly. But no, it falls into a chaos of frankly unacceptable statements, because of the unfocused and not very wise, or simply because the state of shock is such in officialism and opposition that they cannot leave their disconnection and the effective verse of violence is less and less credible, and functional, by the few captive means available for the transmission of that, his message. Today, the people of Chile move, pissed off, in a transversal way, showing, with a critical balance of already deceased people, that we are in a non-democratic state and that the state when raising arms, the armed forces of all Chileans, against the freedom of opinion and displacement, the president has not fulfilled the role for which he was elected.
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Today I proclaim myself in a Failed State when democracy is altered with the weapons of the state ready for the repression of fellow citizens and people who legitimately, without weapons and violence, express their feelings freely. Freedom that has been violated today. So far 15 people have died since the democratic breakdown established by the president of Chile. Tanks and war ammunition in front of banners and cacerolazos. Grief and pain already lived. Vandals and infiltrators cannot divert why, the reason for the unleashed anger. Journalists and sensible media do not remain in the superficiality of the form and focus debate on citizen requirements, on structural issues that are substantive and that should be discussed in order to build society and trust, without cartoons or clichés that also to Many already have us sad and tired.
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We repudiate as an independent organization any act of violence against people or public and private infrastructure; as well as, we reject the democratic breakdown prompted by an inefficient political management and unable to foresee scenarios and take out early political readings that avoid undermining or hurting our democracy, precisely, to whom their protection has been mandated, first and foremost.
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Government's inability to cope with a crisis is profound and must be a turning point to establish a new social pact and a new fundamental letter that is felt by all.
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Enough of absurd privileges. The Honorable political system must be more humble, self-critical and direct structural proposals for solution.
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Violence, very makeup, is not the focus. Not to be lost, it is much further; and violence also has many forms. And it begins with language and selective power.
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I am not at war, I am at peace; And I want a fairer country. Without violence, with participation and dialogue.
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Rodrigo de la O
Director Vigilante Costero ONG - Waterkeeper Member - Chile
