chilean police students clash on eve of football fest
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

Chilean police, students clash on eve of football fest

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today Chilean police, students clash on eve of football fest

A demonstrator clashes with police
Santiago - Arab Today

Chilean police fired tear gas and water cannon Wednesday to break up a large student protest that turned violent on the eve of the Copa America, the South American football championship.

The protest was the latest in a series of rallies by students who say President Michelle Bachelet's education reforms are insufficient to overhaul a deeply unequal system inherited from late dictator Augusto Pinochet.

Carrying a giant golden trophy with the inscription "The cup of free education," students and teachers swarmed a main avenue through central Santiago.

Organizers said 200,000 people took part in the protest.

They marched peacefully for several blocks before clashes broke out between groups of masked demonstrators and the heavy contingent of riot police watching over the crowd.
The demonstrators threw stones and other projectiles at the police, who used tear gas and water cannon to disperse them. Police and protesters were wounded in the clashes, an AFP photographer said.

The students, who have been protesting against the education system since 2011, also accuse police of using excessive force to break up recent demonstrations.

Earlier in the day, protesters lit barricades on fire to block traffic for several minutes during the morning commute in central Santiago.

The students sought to use the attention on the Copa America, which kicks off in the capital Thursday when the hosts play Ecuador, to rally support for their cause.

"Practically all Chile is talking about is the Copa America. But this event can't be an excuse to forget about our demands," student leader Javiera Reyes told journalists.

"On this supposedly festive occasion, we want to demonstrate that Chile's students are not satisfied with the reforms," 18-year-old demonstrator Alejandro Tapia told AFP.
The march also drew public school teachers, who launched an indefinite strike 11 days ago to protest a reform measure that will link pay rises to performance.

Bachelet won a second term in 2013 with promises to launch an ambitious reform of the education system.

In January, she signed the first reform bill, opening university education to all students and banning for-profit activities at state-funded schools.

Last month, she announced a bill to provide free university education to 60 percent of the poorest students starting next year, reaching 70 percent in 2018 and 100 percent in 2020.

But her reform push has slowed recently amid a series of damaging corruption scandals, including one involving her son.
Source: AFP

 

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

chilean police students clash on eve of football fest chilean police students clash on eve of football fest

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

chilean police students clash on eve of football fest chilean police students clash on eve of football fest

 



GMT 06:46 2017 Wednesday ,04 October

Pope to bless icon for Holy Family Journey to Egypt

GMT 15:51 2017 Tuesday ,22 August

FVP informed on arrangements for Sudan in meetings

GMT 04:55 2016 Monday ,03 October

Alec Baldwin nails it as Trump on ‘SNL’

GMT 21:15 2017 Tuesday ,19 September

Security forces intensify their presence in Kirkuk

GMT 03:39 2017 Saturday ,30 September

Al Jawaheri economic improvement

GMT 10:29 2018 Saturday ,06 January

Siniora meets German Ambassador

GMT 06:27 2017 Tuesday ,26 December

Embassy in Russia marks National Days

GMT 19:06 2017 Thursday ,05 January

Moral policing in Maharashtra, too

GMT 11:49 2017 Wednesday ,26 April

OIC Condemns Attack on Military Base in Afghanistan

GMT 18:35 2017 Monday ,27 February

UK foreign secretary leaves Egypt
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday