Violence in Chile due to the increase in the metro ticket – News

The Chileans have returned to several Santiago Metro stations to protest the rising ticket prices, which has resulted in clashes with security forces and the shutdown of various parts of the service.

The youths were accused by the authorities of causing damage, while the main news sites were full of photographs in which students were seen sitting on the platforms, their legs dangling, or jumping turnstiles to avoid disbursements that validate the increases.

L & # 39; agency EFE He reported that incidents had been recorded in the Chilean capital's metro stations, where the presence of the police had increased over the days due to the intensity of the demonstrations.

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HUNDREDS OF STUDENTS RETURN TO TAKE THE METRO STATIONS OF CHILE SANTIAGO TO TRAVELERS FREE OF CHARGE AFTER THE INCREASED PASSAGE OF 1 DOLLAR, ONE OF THE MOST ECONOMIC TRANSPORTS OF THE REGION. MASS ESCAPES CALLED ARE EXPECTED FOR THE FOLLOWING DAYS. pic.twitter.com/95rOk8rR70

– Paola Dragnic (@PaoladrateleSUR) October 18, 2019

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The most tense situation was experienced at the Los Héroes train station, in the heart of the city, where a group of young people confronted police officers in the area where the machines must validate the tickets and access the platforms.

Meanwhile, police used tear gas inside the stations and even in subway cars.

The price of metro tickets in the capital has been steadily increasing since 2007, when it cost 420 pesos (about $ 0.6) to 830 pesos today.

Despite the background, Chile's transport minister, Gloria Hutt, has said that "tariffs are an already established decision" and will not be re-examined.

The protests began spontaneously, featuring students and users of underground transport, although Twitter and with the hashtag # EvasionMasiva, they started organizing new events.

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7:05 pm UPDATE # L1, # L2, # L4, # L4A and # L6 Suspended with closed train stations and no train service due to disturbances and destructions that prevent the minimum security conditions for passengers and workers.

– Santiago Metro (@metrodesantiago) October 18, 2019

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According to the figures provided by the chairman of the board of directors of Metro, Louis de Grange, "we estimate the cost of this violence between 400 and 500 million pesos" (about 700 000 dollars).

President Sebastián Piñera told Radio Agriculture that if the climate of protest continues, "we are studying the possibility of enforcing the law on state security".

"In some cases, we will apply it because it is the purpose of the law," he added, referring to this tool that allows justice to speed up prosecutions against persons accused of crimes against the public order or breach of internal security.

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Now #EvasionMasiva at Plaza Puente Alto metro station.#EvasionMetro pic.twitter.com/cz5ibnzSMS

– THINK PRESS (@PiensaPrensa) October 18, 2019

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In Twitter, several users recalled that not only the increase in the price of the ticket is disturbing, but also the statements of the Minister of the Economy of Chile, Juan Andrés Fontaine, who commented a few days ago to the press that "those who get up early may have a lower fare ", compared to previous metro tickets are cheaper.

From the subway speakers, they indicate which stations are temporarily closed by the events, so that users can plan their trip. In the afternoon, it was decided to directly close two subway lines.

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Requests to reduce the metro ticket come not only from protesters, but from ex-presidential candidate Beatriz Sánchez, who Twitter "President @ Sebastianianpinera said, is not it time to argue with your government, listen to people, look for solutions and step back from the optimization of transport? "