Chilean students grapple with the crisis

“I am constantly fearing for my family in Chile,” said Sofia Brinck, Chilean journalist and MSc Global Media and Communications student. As the country enters its fourth week of unrest, Chilean students at LSE find themselves in a difficult situation – far away from their loved ones, awash with harsh reports from their homeland, concerned but limited in their ability to act politically. At the same time, the LSESU Chile Society grapples with the decision of whether or not to take a political stance. 

Over the last few weeks, Chile has experienced a burst of demonstrations and violence as masses of Chileans have marched in the street to protest over socio-economic issues. The government declared a state of emergency, more than 7,000 protesters were arrested, and at least 20 people died, according to Reuters. 

Brinck told The Beaver that regardless of political stance, its is very hard for Chilean students to be here in London, as she explained that they all live in “Chilean time,” constantly following the developments in their country and alert at the times of the major protests. “I don’t know what my country will be when I am back,” she added.

She went on to say that she is constantly fearing especially for those who she knows are ‘in the streets,’ her sister and ex-coworkers. “The most shocking is the violence, the violations of human rights – it’s the violence of the state in an institutional way,” she emphasised, and pointed out cases of sexual harassment and loss of eyesight by protestors injured by rubber bullets.

The worst unrest since the end of Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship in 1990 also affected the LSE Chile Society, which has never been characterised as a political society. Some members raised the demand for the society to become more active and decisive in terms of their political positioning. However, the society has decided to remain neutral in order to remain inclusive to all its members. However, the Society addressed the issue by organising a discussion with Tim Newborn, LSE Professor of Criminology and Social Policy, about urban and social conflict.

Cristian Stewart, Chile Society President, explained that it was hard for the group to know how to respond at first and that they decided to cancel several events on other academic issues.  In an assembly held by the society to better define its nature, Stewart said that “We [the Chilean Society] defined that our main seal will be academic, but there we will moments to discuss as a society how and when to do certain political actions, depending on the situation.”

“There is a huge political diversity within the members. Even though adopting this nature is a political act, we think that this is the decision that better represents all our members. We want to do many things, but always knowing that the Chilean crisis will guide the discussion,” he added. 

Stewart described mixed political stances amongst Chilean students, underpinned by a general feeling of anguish. “The prevailing confusion in Chile also came to LSE students,” he told The Beaver, “there are as many political positions as people, but for all of us it is very hard looking at what is happening from this far.”

Some students, such as Brinck, have been actively participating in demonstrations at the Chilean Embassy and other central locations in London. Others are planning to write dissertations and articles about Chile, with the hope to have an impact on their homeland from LSE. 

Brinck mentioned her own experiences as an undergraduate to highlight that historically, students in Chile have played an important role by leading political activism in the past two decades. “In 2011 I was in university and we were 6 months on strikes,” she said. 

The recent protests in Chile were sparked by a rise in transport fees which led some students to jump above the gates at tube stations. Brinck told The Beaver that after three days police were positioned inside the stations. “The only answer we got from the government has been violence and state of emergency and then the military on the streets that reminds us automatically of the dictatorship,”  she said. Despite the fear, Brinck showed some hope in the midst of the crisis, “It has to burst – but then something good will be coming.”

Chilean protestors in London (photo courtesy of Sofia Brick)

Share:

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on pinterest
Pinterest
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
On Key

Related Posts

Reflections on 75 years of The Beaver

For our final issue of the year, which is also the 75th Anniversary edition of The Beaver, a selection of our opinion and executive editors write about what 75 years at The Beaver means to them.

scroll to top