- Title: CHILE-STUDENTS/PROTEST Chilean police fire water cannon in student protests
- Date: 11th June 2015
- Summary: SANTIAGO, CHILE (JUNE 11, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS THROWING FOOTBALLS AT THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS BEING HELD BACK BY THE POLICE VARIOUS OF POLICE FIRING WATER CANNON TO DISPERSE PROTESTERS PROTESTERS WAVING FLAGS AND THROWING FOOTBALLS AT POLICE VARIOUS OF POLICE TRYING TO CONTAIN PROTESTS VARIOUS OF POLICE FIRING WATER CANNON TO DISPERS
- Embargoed: 26th June 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Chile
- Country: Chile
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA49QD87O4IO9AMZI63GWLCJKVK
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Police clashed with protesters as students and teachers continued an unauthorised protest in support of education reform in the Chilean capital, Santiago, on Thursday (June 11).
Protesters threw footballs at the Ministry of Education in what they called a "kick about for education and for teachers," making reference to the opening of the Copa America soccer championship the same day.
A kick about of a different kind soon developed as the Special Forces moved in to disperse protesters from where they were unlawfully blocking roads, in front of the Central Workers' Union in La Alemeda.
Police fired water cannon to move the crowds and were hit back with projectiles and even Molotov cocktails.
According to the Operating Unit for Traffic Control, traffic was diverted away from the area, through Espana Avenue.
The violence comes as President Michelle Bachelet looks to bolster teacher pay and conditions, bring public schools, now managed and financed by townships, under national jurisdiction, and make university education free.
Students and teachers say they have not been consulted in the changes and are demanding a greater say.
Earlier this year, Chile's Congress approved the first batch of Bachelet's ambitious education reform which includes an end to profits at state-subsidised schools and eliminates their selective entrance policies. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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