Fourth curfew in Chile after the worst riots of recent decades

Chile on Monday suffered a fourth day of riots and demonstrations in the worst social upheaval since the return of democracy in the country in the late 1980s to become the most prosperous country in Latin America . Thousands of people gathered Monday in the plazas of Chilean cities, after a weekend marked by soldiers and police who clashed with protesters and opened fire on masked raiders. The peso and local stocks fell.

Until the moment, 11 people died and 1,500 were arrested in a wave of incendiary attacks, looting and riots who have immobilized the cities. President Sebastián Piñera declared the state of emergency and asked the army to restore order.

The scenes are hard to reconcile with the country's image as one of the most stable cases in the region, with an economy that deserves to be shown. What began as protests against the increase in metro fares has quickly turned into a manifestation of discontent for income equality, pensions, health and education.

"It's like a pressure cooker"assures Claudio Fuentes, Professor of Political Science at Diego Portales University in Santiago. "This is a series of parallel programs that have been developed for decades and have exploded with the increase in transportation rates."

Although Piñera has dropped at an increasingly fast pace, his efforts to combat violence have fueled the fire. Sunday night, I had a clear message for Chile: we are at war, we choose the game and we will win. The dialogue was not mentioned.

In a televised speech to the nation Sunday night, the president congratulated the security forces and compared the protesters to a criminal organization. This is a dangerous tactic. Behind the riots, there is a much larger wave of people protesting against the Chilean market economy, which has produced immense wealth and enormous inequality. The mining unions called for a general strike on October 23 and accused the police of "brutal aggression".

"We are at war with a powerful and implacable enemy, who respects nothing and whoever is ready to use crime and violence without any limit, even when it involves loss of life," Piñera said. . The troublemakers "represent evil". Army General Javier Iturriaga responded to the president's remarks stating, "I am not at war with anyone."

According to Ricardo Solari, economist and former minister under the government of Socialist Ricardo Lagos, the protests will tarnish the tax, pension and work reform program that has been touted as a key to growth. "From now on, the Piñera government will focus only on things without problems and abandon its reforms," ​​said Solari.

Looting and fire of shopping centers

The deaths were caused by incendiary attacks in a supermarket and warehouse. About 70 metro stations were damaged, some almost destroyed, dozens of buses were burned, shops ransacked and buildings burned down. The curfew did not prevent the chaos, which spread to other areas, which forced Piñera to extend the state of affairs. emergency.

Most businesses were closed and many companies encouraged their employees to work from home. Those who went to work after curfew was raised at 6 am had to cope with restricted public transport, with soldiers guarding subway entrances and military helicopters overhead. Chilean markets fell to a low volume, with many operators staying at home but not panicking.

"Three supermarkets in my neighborhood were ransacked yesterday and the police did not even show up," David Vargas said Monday while he was traveling to his workplace as a technician for a company credit cards. "The government is only focusing on safety and adding firewood to the fire with this tongue."

Vargas joined others who were hitting pots in the streets the previous days, but chose to stay home Sunday while his neighbors were organizing patrols to prevent looters from entering homes. Normally, he leaves home at 6 am and does not arrive until midnight, as he spends about US $ 3 and three hours a day on public transport. The government is not in touch with the people, said Vargas. "It seems like things have to get to a crisis point so we can be heard," he said.

Bad memories

The mining unions are calling for the lifting of the state of emergency and curfew, according to a CTMIN coordination group release, which represents some workers at the Los Bronces copper mine of Anglo American plc; Quebrada Blanca, of Teck Resources Ltd. Los Pelambres y Zaldívar, from Antofagasta Plc; among others.

Back to Santiago Military patrols and armored vehicles in the streets recall the bad memories of the military dictatorship that ruled the country from 1973 to 1990.. The curfew started at 7 pm in much of the capital Sunday, but could not avoid a new wave of demonstrations and destruction.

The single metro system has estimated damages to more than $ 300 million, according to the newspaper The third. At the airport, flights were suspended overnight and travelers slept on the treadmills to comply with the curfew.

} Good Piñera acknowledged the right of people to protest and said he understood some of his complaints.his message in general was deeply uncompromising. He criticized the defenders of the protesters, gave his "full support" to the security forces and pledged to restore order.

He did not use the word "dialogue"Not once, an omission that probably makes the thousands of people who have been peacefully taking to the streets across the country in recent days furious, while many have lamented the violence, they support the central demands.

At least 22 people were seriously injured during protests, the Chilean National Institute of Human Rights said Sunday, the Chilean newspaper El Mostrador reported. The organization said that the use of excessive force and sexual harassment by security forces was reported and that women were forced to undress, according to reports. The counter.

The demonstrators, hitting pots and pans, demonstrated again in Santiago on Sunday, and the armed forces intervened in some cases to disperse them. Most of the shops and malls were closed, and the few establishments that opened had long lines of people buying food, water and fuel.

Santiago prepares to receive President Donald Trump and other leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum in less than a month.