Revolting Times In Chile

At least 18 trade unions are expected to participate in the demonstrations, as well as Transantiago mass transit employees and the Colegio Medico de Chile – Chile's medial association. CUT organizers characterize the demonstration as a “day of action” to demand greater economic equality and to end “neo-liberal” economic practices and said the protests will specifically focus on securing unemployment insurance, reforming the educational and electoral systems, and strengthening collective bargaining efforts.

"We want dialogue with the government on these issues, but for that you need to have more than one party involved. Just now, the good will of the workers is reaching its limit,” said CUT vice-president Maria Rozas.
[Quoted excerpt from the Santiago Times ]

[Quoted from the Conspiracy Central Forum ]

Thousands of Chileans took to the streets yesterday in a burgeoning middle class revolt against the 17 years of coalition government that has ruled since the fall of Augusto Pinochet in 1990.

Hundreds of Chileans were arrested as they approached the presidential palace. Squares in and around the palace became a chaotic mix of mounted police, riot troops and teargas. As water cannons blasted protesters, waves of students counterattacked with rocks. Burning barricades almost closed central Santiago.

Television images showed senator Alejandro Navarro, of President Michelle Bachelet's Socialist party, bleeding from the back of his head after apparently being clubbed by a police officer.

"The government should understand that the people have the right to demonstrate. And most of the protesters were peaceful, so the police do not have to use violence," Navarro told the Santiago Times. "We said that after the first signs of violence, we would not retreat. A hit from behind? That can’t be justified. An official hit me on the head. Unfortunately, it was a police officer."

The deputy interior minister, Felipe Harboe, said the incident would be investigated. Mr Navarro, who was treated in hospital, supported the protest.

"This protest will start to change things. There will be one after another," said Arturo Martinez, of United Workers Central, the trade union that organised the protest. The union is tapping into widespread anger at economic inequality in Chilean society. As riot police and ruling party politicians tried to play down the protests, the capital was filled by protesters demanding higher pensions, better public transport, subsidised housing and a halt to rising food and electricity prices.

President Bachelet initially defended her record as a progressive politician, then conceded and promised "subsidies to all" families in need and a "short-term solution" for economic inequality. "Nobody can say that my government's programmes are not fair and equitable. I will not accept questioning of my work on social justice," she said. "The solutions to these inequalities and the goal of a more equitable Chile are obtained with dialogue, maturity, work and agreements. Through this process there will be discord, but also common understanding."

While government officials tried to ignore the protests, union leaders such as Mr Martinez threatened to lay siege to Santiago by shutting down major avenues and roads leading into the city.

Throughout the day, protesters repeatedly attempted to approach the presidential palace, which late on Tuesday was briefly occupied by low-income housing residents who stormed the building. At least 30 members managed to scale the iron window grates, dangling from the palace screaming anti-government slogans.

Yesterday's protest comes after weeks of labour action, including strikes by poultry workers in southern Chile and copper miners in the north. Union leaders called the demonstrations to protest against the government's "neo-liberal" economic policies and to further the national debate about the country's minimum wage.

Salaries for workers have been at the forefront of public debate after recent statements by Bishop Alejandro Goic calling for "an ethical [minimum] wage" for Chilean workers.

[Quoted excerpt from the Santiago Times
Santiago Demonstrations Cut Short By Police, But Regional Demonstrations Successful

(Aug 30, 2007) Police prevented members and supporters of Chile's largest labor union – the United Workers Central (CUT) – from marching through the streets of Santiago on Wednesday, after union leaders deliberately failed to seek authorization for their protest. But demonstrations in most other parts of Chile went unhindered by police and drew significant support.

The demonstrations, which also occurred concurrently in regional cities, were called by the CUT in order to protest endemic inequality in Chile, where the wage disparity between floor workers and management is 200 to one. Salary differences in most developed countries are on the order of eight to one.

CUT leaders initially characterized the demonstrations as part of a "day of action" meant to demand greater economic equality and to end "neo-liberal" economic practices. Permits were not requested by organizers because the protests were predicted to be numerous, occurring in various locations throughout Santiago.

CUT officials also requested members and supporters to protest in as many creative ways as possible and not rely solely on the street protests. Actions recommended included arriving late for work, distributing union flyers at work, or displaying banners supportive of labor union activity.

[Quote from Yahoo

SANTIAGO (AFP) - About 670 people were arrested and another 50 were injured in the first major protest since Chilean President Michele Bachelet took office last year, police said Thursday.

(photo from SthPacific)
Hundreds of people protesting the socialist government's economic policies threw rocks at police officers who retaliated with water cannons and tear gas during Wednesday's march in Santiago.

A demonstrator kicks a canister of tear gas during a rally in Santiago, Chile on Wednesday.

The clashes left about 50 people injured, including 33 police officers, 10 of whom were in critical condition.

{The last sentence makes it sound like it was police officers who were in critical condition doesn't it? But I'll bet it was demonstrators...Milton} {Editor's note: Fixed title spelling. DrC}

[Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on September 4, 2007]

Note: Santiago Times Conspiracy Central Forum Santiago Times Yahoo