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Photos: Human rights abuse accusations proliferate in Chile unrest

In Chile, public prosecutors are investigating more than 1,000 cases of alleged abuses - ranging from torture to sexual violence - by security forces during weeks of anti-government unrest. The unrest was sparked by a hike in metro fees but spread to encompass pent-up grievances over income inequality and soaring living costs. The protests have left at least 23 dead, around 7,000 detained, and 1,659 demonstrators and 800 police officers injured.

Updated on: Nov 18, 2019 1:23 PM IST

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Riot police officers detain Camila Miranda after she was shot with 6 rubber bullets, 4 of which pierced her skin during a protest which she was demonstrating at against Chile's government in Santiago, Chile. (Henry Romero / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 18, 2019 1:23 PM

Riot police officers detain Camila Miranda after she was shot with 6 rubber bullets, 4 of which pierced her skin during a protest which she was demonstrating at against Chile's government in Santiago, Chile. (Henry Romero / REUTERS)

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Natalia Perez, the widow of Alex Nunez, who was beaten to death during military curfew, shows a picture she took of Nunez on her phone. Nunez made it home that night but was rushed to hospital, where he died from his injuries shortly afterwards. “Only 5% of his brain was working. They couldn’t operate,” said Perez. “He had a brain injury, cerebral edema and fractured skull.” (Ivan Alvarado / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 18, 2019 1:23 PM

Natalia Perez, the widow of Alex Nunez, who was beaten to death during military curfew, shows a picture she took of Nunez on her phone. Nunez made it home that night but was rushed to hospital, where he died from his injuries shortly afterwards. “Only 5% of his brain was working. They couldn’t operate,” said Perez. “He had a brain injury, cerebral edema and fractured skull.” (Ivan Alvarado / REUTERS)

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Medical personnel tend to an injured demonstrator during a protest against Chile's government in Santiago. Public prosecutors in Chile are investigating more than 1,000 cases of alleged abuses - ranging from torture to sexual violence - by security forces during weeks of anti-government unrest. That could double to more than 2,000, said Ymay Ortiz, head of the public prosecutor’s rights division. (Jorge Silva / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 18, 2019 1:23 PM

Medical personnel tend to an injured demonstrator during a protest against Chile's government in Santiago. Public prosecutors in Chile are investigating more than 1,000 cases of alleged abuses - ranging from torture to sexual violence - by security forces during weeks of anti-government unrest. That could double to more than 2,000, said Ymay Ortiz, head of the public prosecutor’s rights division. (Jorge Silva / REUTERS)

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Medical personnel shield together to protect themselves from tear gas and rubber bullets during a protest. Police have said they are following protocols and are properly trained for riot control. Police chief Mario Rozas has ordered riot officers bearing arms to wear cameras and said earlier this week that rights specialists will be deployed to protests. (Jorge Silva / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 18, 2019 1:23 PM

Medical personnel shield together to protect themselves from tear gas and rubber bullets during a protest. Police have said they are following protocols and are properly trained for riot control. Police chief Mario Rozas has ordered riot officers bearing arms to wear cameras and said earlier this week that rights specialists will be deployed to protests. (Jorge Silva / REUTERS)

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Jean Espinoza, 22, poses for a photograph inside Christopher Astudillo's (not pictured) hotel room in Santiago. Espinoza's eye was hit with a pellet during a protest in his hometown of Iquique in October. After three days of waiting, he was eventually transferred to the ocular trauma unit at the Hospital del Salvador in Santiago where he was then diagnosed with sight-loss in one of his eyes. (Jorge Silva / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 18, 2019 1:23 PM

Jean Espinoza, 22, poses for a photograph inside Christopher Astudillo's (not pictured) hotel room in Santiago. Espinoza's eye was hit with a pellet during a protest in his hometown of Iquique in October. After three days of waiting, he was eventually transferred to the ocular trauma unit at the Hospital del Salvador in Santiago where he was then diagnosed with sight-loss in one of his eyes. (Jorge Silva / REUTERS)

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Medical personnel carry an injured demonstrator towards a make-shift emergency area during a protest. As street clashes rage in the prosperous Andean nation, the allegations of police brutality have put pressure on center-right President Sebastian Pinera, who has axed ministers and canceled major summits to quell anger. Pinera has acknowledged “abuses” in the handling of the protests. (Jorge Silva / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 18, 2019 1:23 PM

Medical personnel carry an injured demonstrator towards a make-shift emergency area during a protest. As street clashes rage in the prosperous Andean nation, the allegations of police brutality have put pressure on center-right President Sebastian Pinera, who has axed ministers and canceled major summits to quell anger. Pinera has acknowledged “abuses” in the handling of the protests. (Jorge Silva / REUTERS)

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The unrest was sparked by a hike in metro fees but spread to encompass pent-up grievances over income inequality and soaring living costs. The protests have left at least 23 dead, around 7,000 detained, and 1,659 demonstrators and 800 police officers injured, according to authorities and rights groups. The demonstrations have sometimes devolved into arson, riots and looting, wreaking billions of dollars of damage to infrastructure and businesses. Santiago’s public transport system has been hobbled. (Jorge Silva / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 18, 2019 1:23 PM

The unrest was sparked by a hike in metro fees but spread to encompass pent-up grievances over income inequality and soaring living costs. The protests have left at least 23 dead, around 7,000 detained, and 1,659 demonstrators and 800 police officers injured, according to authorities and rights groups. The demonstrations have sometimes devolved into arson, riots and looting, wreaking billions of dollars of damage to infrastructure and businesses. Santiago’s public transport system has been hobbled. (Jorge Silva / REUTERS)

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Natalia Aravena, who lost an eye after a riot police officer’s tear gas canister exploded into her face is seen inside her bedroom in Santiago. Many protesters say they have been blinded by rubber bullets and tear gas canisters. The Chilean Ophthalmological Society has registered 225 instances of severe eye trauma from Oct. 19 to Nov. 10 and said that may rise. (Ivan Alvarado / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 18, 2019 1:23 PM

Natalia Aravena, who lost an eye after a riot police officer’s tear gas canister exploded into her face is seen inside her bedroom in Santiago. Many protesters say they have been blinded by rubber bullets and tear gas canisters. The Chilean Ophthalmological Society has registered 225 instances of severe eye trauma from Oct. 19 to Nov. 10 and said that may rise. (Ivan Alvarado / REUTERS)

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Christopher Astudillo, 21, sits in his hotel room after applying eye-drops. Astudillo's eye was hit with a pellet during a protest in his hometown of Iquique. After three days of waiting, he was eventually transferred to the ocular trauma unit at the Hospital del Salvador in Santiago where he was diagnosed with retinal detachment. (Jorge Silva / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 18, 2019 1:23 PM

Christopher Astudillo, 21, sits in his hotel room after applying eye-drops. Astudillo's eye was hit with a pellet during a protest in his hometown of Iquique. After three days of waiting, he was eventually transferred to the ocular trauma unit at the Hospital del Salvador in Santiago where he was diagnosed with retinal detachment. (Jorge Silva / REUTERS)

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Camila Miranda, a demonstrator who was injured during a protest. “We don’t mind being hungry, facing hardship, neglect, pain,” she said. “People are willing to make a sacrifice to achieve real change.” (Henry Romero / REUTERS)

Updated on Nov 18, 2019 1:23 PM

Camila Miranda, a demonstrator who was injured during a protest. “We don’t mind being hungry, facing hardship, neglect, pain,” she said. “People are willing to make a sacrifice to achieve real change.” (Henry Romero / REUTERS)

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