Chile’s Capital Santiago Dawns Under State of Emergency After Violent Protests

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The army took control of the streets after a day of violent protests against the rise in subway fares.

Throughout Friday, October 18th, high school students protested against the increase in subway fares in the Chilean capital from 800 to 830 pesos (US$1.13 to $1.17). Initially, the demonstrations focused on jumping over the stations’ turnstiles and blocking public roads.

However, during the night, the demonstrations became violent, with fires in 19 subway stations, looting in supermarkets and shops and the destruction of bank branches, amidst the banging on pots throughout the city.

The outer emergency staircase of the Enel power company’s central building near Cerro Santa Lucía, one of the main tourist attractions in the Chilean capital, was set on fire. The blaze was controlled by firefighters, but the flames reached the 12th floor of the emergency staircase and affected the company’s offices on the building’s first floor.

The Santiago Fire Department confirmed that the fire in the electricity company building was intentional. However, there is still no evidence that the fire was related to the protests.

Late at night, President Sebastián Piñera interrupted personal commitments and returned to the presidential palace of La Moneda, where he declared a state of emergency after meeting with Defense Minister lberto Espina and Interior Minister Andrés Chadwick.

Appointed to head the state of emergency, General Javier Iturriaga ruled out the option of decreeing a curfew.

In the morning, the Chilean capital was assessing damages. In all, 41 subway stations were vandalized, including the burned ones. A total of 156 injured police officers have been reported, and so far there have been 11 reports of injured civilians.

Rodolfo Carter, the mayor of the municipality of La Florida, said yesterday morning that the state of emergency should be suspended on Monday or Tuesday. He said the Chilean capital has been the stage for a battlefield the night before.

The subway system in the Chilean capital and metropolitan area is closed all weekend. The company claimed a lack of security for workers. A conductor was even trapped in a burning station but was eventually rescued. Conversely, the bus fleet has been reinforced.

Demonstrations were reported yesterday afternoon in Santiago and throughout Chile. The population is protesting against the increase in the cost of living. By early afternoon on Saturday, the demonstrations were taking place peacefully, with no incidents.

Source: Agência Brasil