03:16Police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds of protesters on Plaza Baquedano in Santiago, on Friday, in a rally by nursing technicians demanding the same benefits as doctors and nurses.
A small group of protesters clashed with security forces and several were arrested.
Nelly Gallardo, nurse technician, "At one point we were seen as heroes and now we are considered criminals. As you can see we have police everywhere, in reality in Chile democracy does not exist anymore."
"I consider this to be practically a dictatorship of Mr Pinera because we do not have the right to freedom of expression, which is this [demonstration], when we take to the streets we immediately get repressed with tear gas and water cannons," she added.
The technicians want to be recognised in the country's Health Code, alongside other health professionals, they believe they have not received the same benefits in the fight against COVID-19.
Chile: Tear gas flies at rally demanding more benefits for healthcare workers
Police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds of protesters on Plaza Baquedano in Santiago, on Friday, in a rally by nursing technicians demanding the same benefits as doctors and nurses.
A small group of protesters clashed with security forces and several were arrested.
Nelly Gallardo, nurse technician, "At one point we were seen as heroes and now we are considered criminals. As you can see we have police everywhere, in reality in Chile democracy does not exist anymore."
"I consider this to be practically a dictatorship of Mr Pinera because we do not have the right to freedom of expression, which is this [demonstration], when we take to the streets we immediately get repressed with tear gas and water cannons," she added.
The technicians want to be recognised in the country's Health Code, alongside other health professionals, they believe they have not received the same benefits in the fight against COVID-19.
Police deployed tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds of protesters on Plaza Baquedano in Santiago, on Friday, in a rally by nursing technicians demanding the same benefits as doctors and nurses.
A small group of protesters clashed with security forces and several were arrested.
Nelly Gallardo, nurse technician, "At one point we were seen as heroes and now we are considered criminals. As you can see we have police everywhere, in reality in Chile democracy does not exist anymore."
"I consider this to be practically a dictatorship of Mr Pinera because we do not have the right to freedom of expression, which is this [demonstration], when we take to the streets we immediately get repressed with tear gas and water cannons," she added.
The technicians want to be recognised in the country's Health Code, alongside other health professionals, they believe they have not received the same benefits in the fight against COVID-19.