Carta a David Miller por brutalidad de Policia de Toronto contra jugadores Chilenos Sub 20.

Dear Mr. Miller:

The shameful attitude of the security personnel at the National Stadium the other night, which made the police involved and take their side with the results we now regret is something that needs your careful attention.

If after the game some of the players wanted to greet their fans that were calling them from the other side of the fence to sign autographs and getting their picture taken by the public is not against any security rule, is not a dangerous situation under any point of view, should not need intervention of security personnel, not to mention the way they intervene pushing and pulling the players and delegation officials, medical, trainers and public relations officials alike, that attitude trigger the reaction from the few young tired players that insisted in going to the fence and didn't like to be pushed around like that by some people who were not officials of any kind and defend themselves.

They started struggle the players and called the police who without trying to solve the problem took the side of the security and shouting aloud something nobody could understand in the mess , started beating anybody who didn't have a security jacket , by then all the players came out of the bus and together with other few of the delegation and service people confronted the attack. Some of the players came out to calm their comrades and bring them back into the bus and go to the hotel, with some success , but the police and security went after them trying to get them out , they wanted more fun , as the players refused to abandon the bus they sprayed pepper spray inside which made the kids to open windows and doors in any way they could to avoid suffocating . Wouldn't you or any normal person do the same?

Now, the damage to the bus was done with a heavy hard object like a night stick , the players didn't have at that moment anything more than small cameras and cell phones so the damage to the vehicle cannot be blamed to them, besides football balls and shoes were in the luggage, So there were no excuse for the arrest

What do you think should happen if (As indicated by Mr. Boza in his mail) a Canadian football delegation is attacked .... or simply mistreated by security in a chilean stadium or in any other stadium in the world? Remember there is a big delegation in Brasil right now. Shouldn't they react just the same and defend themselves after an attack like that? Shouldn't you support them too? ..... Shouldn't I and all the chilean-canadian community support them too?

May I suggest that a rule should be established in order that the security personnel position applicants be selected by their education , manners and common sense rather than by the kilos of weight or meters in size or menacing looks.

I hope this letter will help mend the damage so we will continue to work in making Toronto a more beautiful an friendly city to be proud of and I am sure the support you had from the Latin American and Spanish speaking community who worked for you to be elected will continue to support the Miller times in the future.

Publicado 24 de julio 2007

Por: Hector Aviles
Orlando Letelier Cultural Centre.