Human Rights Commission Reports Severe Abuses by Police During Student Protest in Santiago

Original article: Gas pimienta directo al rostro, un joven inconsciente arrastrado por el suelo y vehículos policiales que casi atropellan a manifestantes: Denuncian graves abusos de Carabineros en marcha estudiantil en Santiago The Human Rights Observer Commission of Casa Memoria José Domingo Cañas publicly condemned the violent repression by police against high school and university students during the protest on Thursday, May 14, in Santiago. «Today, we witnessed disproportionate and indiscriminate repression against a largely peaceful demonstration. We observed provocations and harassment by police vehicles, including one that advanced at high speed, pushing protesters while honking its horn, putting students and attendees at risk of being run over,» states the report from the Human Rights Observers.

Furthermore, the declaration highlights, «we confirmed arbitrary arrests of young people and adolescents, including one student with blood on his face and another young man who became unconscious due to blows inflicted by the police, who was later dragged on the ground and violently thrown into a police vehicle. » In addition, the Human Rights Observers denounced the «indiscriminate use of pepper spray applied directly to the faces and eyes of protesters, as well as extremely dangerous restraint maneuvers where police agents immobilized detained youth by using their knees and body weight on them. » «These practices have led to deaths in various countries and should not be trivialized or normalized under any circumstances,» adds the statement from Casa Memoria José Domingo Cañas.

Given these circumstances, the organization has called upon all autonomous human rights institutions, «particularly the Child Defender and the National Institute of Human Rights, to actively fulfill their roles in promoting, monitoring, and safeguarding fundamental rights, especially in response to violations affecting children, adolescents, and students. » We will continue to provide updates.