At least 18 flaming barricades were seen early on Wednesday morning by protesters in parts of Chile's capital including Santiago during Chile's two-day strike against Sebastian Pinera, the country's unpopular president.
According to the news, protesters including student groups, unions and opposition politicians had a 48-hour strike with burning barricades and clashing with police on Wednesday to demand fundamental changes in Chile. Some stoned to buses and burnt barricades and Santiago's streets filled with tear gas. Moreover, Chileanprotesterswas about to organize marches downtown, but the government gave some warns and asked them to stay out, threatening to invoke Chile's severe state security law against people who "incite the subversion of public order". Police Maj. Christian Kunstmann informed 36 people including 19 police officers and 17 civilians were injured and 348 people detained over the course of the day. Earlier, police Maj. Christian Kuntzman said one injured officer was shot in the hand and one car was set on fire. The government also said the two-day strike could cost Chile $400 million in lost production. Although Santiago's buses and the subway mostly functioned normally, most citizens stayed out of the capital's busy city center, leaving only light street traffic while most stores were open with very few customers and employees mostly stayed home. Other cities and provinces around Chile also were unusually quiet. Arturo Martinez, president of the organized labor coalition that organized the strike shared that union demands included changes in pensions, health care, education, taxes and a new labor code.
Vehicles are obscured by a burning street barricade by protesters during a national strike in Santiago, Chile on Wednesday, August 24
The long and noisy pot-banging anti-government demonstrationwas conducted on Wednesday
Another student protest for education reform happened in Santiago earlier this month
Protesters barricaded roads and burned tires as the two-day national strike began against unpopular President Sebastian Pinera
The strike could cost Chile $400 million in lost production. One union official stated “this will be the biggest national strike of the last decade”
A slogan “Chile must be different” was raised
There are 36 people wounded including 19 police officers and 17 civilians
Approximately 348 people arrested
A police officer faced with a Chilean youth during clashes after the start of a 48-hour national strike in Santiago, Chile on Wednesday August 24, 2011
In Pictures: Chile's Two-Day Strike
Related links:
Chilean Students' Protest for Education Reform
