CHILE: Demonstrators clash with police as union groups lead a national strike and mass protests

Record ID: 341176

  • Title: CHILE: Demonstrators clash with police as union groups lead a national strike and mass protests
  • Date: 11th July 2013
  • Summary: SANTIAGO, CHILE (JULY 11, 2013) (REUTERS) GENERAL OF PROTEST VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING THROUGH DOWNTOWN AVENUE A WOMAN SHOUTING THROUGH A MEGAPHONE SAYING IN SPANISH, 'THEY SOLD THE WATER, THEY SOLD ELECTRICITY, NOW THEY WANT TO SELL HEALTH' MAN CARRYING CHILD ON SHOULDERS AND MARCHING FEET AS PEOPLE MARCH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHILEAN PARKS WORKER, HECTOR VEGA,
  • Embargoed: 26th July 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Chile
  • Country: Chile
  • Topics: Crime,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2PEVMP8MBX4WRDQCNBL2RUVEO
  • Story Text: Demonstrators in Chile clashed with police on Thursday (July 11) as they took part in several protests as part of a national one-day strike called by union groups.
    Thousands of demonstrators walked out of their jobs and met in various points in the city around 11 a.m. local time (1500 GMT) to take part in the national demonstration called by the Central Union of Workers, or CUT, which was joined by other union groups, public workers and student organizations.
    Activists are demanding tax reforms for workers that they say would limit inequality, a new minimum wage equal to $490 dollars a month, and other workplace measures.
    "Everything is business here (in Chile), and we want that to stop so that the country is fair to all," said Hector Vega who works in the national parks system.
    Students also continued to call for free and quality education as they joined the workers in the demonstration and marched through downtown Santiago, choking traffic.
    "For fairer education, so all Chileans can advance," said demonstrator Adelina Diaz.
    "It (the strike and protest) is precisely to make Chile a fairer and better country and we are very happy with the response from our organizations (participating)," added Bernarda Figueroa.
    Most the demonstrations remained peaceful and some protesters were seen with their children.
    Several barricades were erected by demonstrators blocking traffic at several points in the city.
    As evening fell, police armed with water cannon and tear gas began firing on the crowds, sending multitudes scrambling.
    At the Liceo Cervantes secondary school, hooded demonstrators hurled fire extinguishers and rocks at police who responded with water cannon.
    Small fires were lit in the streets and a bus belonging to the Transantiago mass transit network was burnt.
    Several protesters were detained.
    There were mixed reports as to the number of demonstrators who participated. The CUT said more than 150,000 participated in the demonstrations
    with 90 percent of public workers walking out of their jobs, while local media said the government reported only 6.4 percent of public workers did not turn up for work.
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