I had an interesting weekend for sure…but let’s start with today first. I had my first experience with tear gas! Yes, tear gas! I suppose it’s an everyday occurrence for many people in France and South America, but not for me. What was crazier was the fact that I didn’t know what I was getting into. (Somehow I seem to always inadvertently experience unusual things on the streets!) Anyhow, without further delay, here’s the story!
I arranged a dinner with friends at a Korean restaurant in the Korean sector of town. To get there from my house, I take 3 modes of transportation (to keep from paying the high prices of a taxi). First, I ride the bus down my street a few miles. Then, I hop on the subway and take a ride to the next station. Then, I get off and walk about a mile. It’s an involved process, but results in exercise and many adventures along the way! Today, I began with my ride on the bus as usual. It was status quo. (I was thankful, because my last bus ride just 2 hrs before had entailed much traffic and detours due to an accident that shut down both sides of the street.) I got off the bus with just enough time to ride the subway, walk to the restaurant and arrive my standard 5 minutes late. As I entered the subway station, it was extremely busy as usual that time of night, but there seemed to be a few more personnel working than usual. As I waited by the tracks, 2 trains crossed without stopping. That was odd. I thought they were supposed to stop and pick up passengers before moving to the next stop. There was a guy working there appearing to guide the trains, which I’d never seen before. Anyhow, I waited for the next one and boarded as usual. The conductor was giving a message over the speakers. I didn’t understand all of it (the locals speak SO FAST and use words that aren’t in a normal Spanish dictionary). What I did understand was that we wouldn’t be able to get out at the next stop because of the demonstrations they were doing. That’s odd, I thought. Perhaps they are testing the trains, but why would we not be able to get out? We began to move. As usual the train stopped at the next stop (where I needed to get out) and the doors opened. At this point I thought it even more odd that the conductor had given that message. All seemed to be normal.
But, as I walked through the station, I saw more personnel and also people (especially women) who had their faces covered with scarves. It struck me funny because they appeared to be dressed like they were from Afghanistan, however that is not the normal dress here. I only see people with scarves over their mouths and noses when it is very cold outside and people are walking to school or work. But, the subway is very hot since it is underground. So, I couldn’t really understand why they were dressed so silly. I kept walking, though toward my exit. As I approached the exit, there were two guards with in front of the exit gate which was almost closed with only a crack opened for people to come and go. I still couldn’t figure out why all the strange behavior, but asked the guard if I could leave. He said “sure”, but was probably laughing behind his back when he said it because as I walked out the gate and proceeded to go up the steps, I made it 3 or 4 steps and was overwhelmed with the sensation of tear gas in my eyes, nose and all over my face. I quickly moved back down the steps and ran back into the tunnel while my eyes were crying and my nose hurting. I then noticed others coming into the building with the same problems. Their eyes hurt, and they were wearing scarves to protect their faces.
It was then that I began to put the pieces together. In class my professor told us there was a protest scheduled at this particular location tonight at 9pm. It was a protest to tell the government that the people of the city don’t want a dam built in the south of Chile to produce electric power. The topic was the biggest topic of the news today, and was voted on in the government. However, the government voted against the desires of the people in favor of the dam. Many people were angry about it. It was just before 8pm now. So, I suppose what happened is that people decided to gather early due to the way the government voted. But, the police were ready too!
I braved the air about 15 min. later, and it was much better. However, while crossing the streets I saw various groups of protestors and heard their yelling. I also saw police with bullet shields, and special trucks (water trucks I think). I walked across the street and saw another bomb burning on the ground. There were various dispersed groups of protesters with signs. I was a little nervous walking between the groups of people and the police, but all was fine.
I made it to the restaurant (finally) and began to compare notes with the other people in my group. A few of them had walked from the other side of the plaza where the protest had occurred, and my friends had to hide behind cars to avoid being hit by the rocks and bottles the angry mob was throwing at the police. So, in turn the police decided to use the tear gas to give the crowd a good cry. OUCH!
JUSTICE? ….. DEMOCRACY? ….. FREEDOM? …… Good question!
