Chile: Victims of eye injury demand reparations

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ANKARA (AA) - Chile's Eye Trauma Victims rights group has demanded from the President Sebastian Pinera government to guarantee reparations for the people who suffered eye injuries during the anti-government protests.

Marta Valdes, the spokeswoman of the rights group, told radio of the University of Chile on Wednesday that the injured people have not received any assistance yet, although Pinera promised to implement an eye reparation program for the victims on Nov. 11.

Cited by Caracas-based broadcaster TeleSur, Valdes said "the victims of eye trauma do not see that reparation coming" and she claimed that not a single authority has met with them.

The group also demanded from the government to punish those responsible for abuses of human rights.

More than 350 people have suffered from eye trauma due to police repression during the protests according to the National Human Rights Institute (NHRI).

The protests, which began in response to a now-suspended 4% transport fare hike, turned violent Oct. 19.

At least 23 people have since been killed in the protests.

According to the NHRI, more than 6,000 people have been arrested and 2,400 injured since the protests started.

After accepting demands early November to change the Constitution to replace the one dating to the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship, Pinera announced Monday that Chile will hold a plebiscite for constitutional reform on April 26.

Pinera also announced concessions, including rolling back the fare rise, a rise to the minimum wage and placed a hold on electricity prices until next year in a bid to contain the strife.