Piñera decreed state of emergency in Santiago de Chile – News

The President of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, has decreed the state of emergency in the metropolitan area following the serious incidents that occurred following the demonstrations on the increase of the ticket of underground transport.

The decree implies the suspension of certain rights of citizens under national defense or security and the designated areas will be under the control of the army division general, Javier Iturriaga del Campo.

"The objective of this state of emergency is very simple but very deep: to ensure public order, to ensure the tranquility of the inhabitants of the city of Santiago, to protect public and private property and, above all, guarantee the rights of citizens, each of our compatriots, "said the president to the press at the Palacio de La Moneda.

After decreeing the state of emergency, the president said that "in the coming days, we will organize a cross-cutting dialogue in order to mitigate and improve the situation of our compatriots affected by the rise subway ".

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#Last hour | Groups of demonstrators ransack a pharmacy in Santiago, Chile. At this time, riots persist and tension in the Chilean capital increases. (Video via @the third) # 18oct pic.twitter.com/0BqWI5EBg5

– Spanish Post PanAm (@PanAmPost_en) October 19, 2019

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The president came to make this decision because of the intensity of riots that marked the night from Friday to Friday, with fires in five subway stations (metro) and four transit buses, multiple barricades in different parts of the city and the fire. of a building of the electricity distribution company of Santiago, involving the intense work of firefighters and the police to control the situation.

It is estimated that 19 subway stations were destroyed and more than 300 people were arrested. Metro must invest a million dollars to repair the stations.

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LAST MINUTE | The building of the Enel power distribution company in central Santiago, Chile, was set on fire by Chileans as a result of intense disruption caused by rising metro prices in various parts of the city. pic.twitter.com/P0Wb8UTX8f

– Maihen (@MaihenH) October 19, 2019

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Moreover and spontaneously in almost all the communes of the Chilean capital, the neighbors left their houses to engage in peaceful cacerolazos, which contrasted with the vandalism in the metro and in other districts of the city.

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They burn Torre Enel ???????? #Santiago #Chile pic.twitter.com/IpHLLkNmj9

– Don Jorge ?? (@Doctoryorch) October 19, 2019

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The day of violence and unrest was preceded by days of intense protests called "mass escape", during which hundreds of people, mostly high school students and universities, skipped rounds to evade payment, resulting in of the action of security personnel and carabinieri.

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NOW, they burn the flag of Chile in the Alameda de Santiago. #EvasionMasivaTodoElDia pic.twitter.com/y76H9sL4s5

– Paola Dragnic (@PaoladrateleSUR) October 19, 2019

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These actions boosted the intensity of protesters' actions, which eventually broke underground transport infrastructure valued at around 500 million Chilean pesos (about $ 700,000).

Due to the protesters' action in several underground transport stations, the subway management board decided to close all lines on Friday to avoid further damage.

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The procedure caused chaos in the city as thousands of people use the means of transport and have had to find another way to return home.

All subway stations were guarded by police and, according to information provided by the company, will remain closed during the weekend.

According to the metro, the stations affected by fires are Trinidad, San Jose de La Estrella, Los Quillayes, Elisa Correa and Child Protection.

The price of metro tickets in the capital has increased steadily since 2007, when it cost 420 pesos (about $ 0.6), to 830 pesos ($ 1.15), and in the morning, the Minister of Transport, Gloria Hutt , reported that the rise in the price of the ticket would not be re-examined, which also triggered popular discontent.

The Chamber of Deputies has convened a special session due to the increase in the number of passages and demonstrations. On Monday at 6.30 pm, the interior and transport ministers and the director general of the police will be summoned for the serious events that occurred in Santiago in the last hours.

The situation is such that the National Association of professional football has decided to suspend the professional football matches this weekend in the metropolitan area.

The report of Angie Gatica.