Coronavirus Crisis in Chile: Severe Clashes During Hunger Protests

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In Chile, protests over the consequences of the coronavirus curfews are growing. They began in the communities of El Bosque and Villa Francia in the Chilean capital region. Last Monday, residents engaged in street clashes with the police after the latter responded to the protests with violence.

The protests were triggered by the fact that many residents of these communities, with an already precarious living situation, have nothing to eat due to the measures imposed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. El Bosque has been quarantined since mid-April. The police used tear gas grenades and water cannons newly purchased from Turkey. The protesters built barricades and hurled rocks. On social media, residents also reported protests and roadblocks in the municipalities of La Victoria, Maipú, San Felipe, and many other locations.

“They talk about total quarantine. Today some people have no roof over their heads to go into quarantine and who are hungry. People have nothing to eat. What should we eat? Should we drink water during quarantine?” a resident of El Bosque told Radio Bio Bio. In Villa Francia, locals protested under the improvised motto: “It’s about food, not quarantine.” They are demanding government help because they have no income due to the curfew.

In Chile, it is estimated that around 30 percent of the workforce is employed in the casual sector. The measures to fight the pandemic are affecting them particularly hard.

The mayor of El Bosque, Sadi Melo, told news site 24horas: “If people do not have the minimum amount of living space to remain in their homes, the situation has worsened.” He also urged the government to be present and distribute food.

The government of conservative President Sebastián Piñera announced on Sunday evening that it would distribute 2.5 million food parcels to households unable to work due to quarantine measures. However, this is being criticized as wholly inadequate: “Families should have a guaranteed income, the level of which should not decrease,” declared the ex-Minister for Social Development, Marcos Barraza.

Due to the sharp rise in Covid-19 cases, the whole capital region was quarantined last Friday. By Tuesday, more than 50,000 confirmed infections had been reported.

Following the riots in El Bosque, charges were brought against 15 people. The “anti-barricade law,” newly introduced because of ongoing social protests since last October, was also enforced.