29 Oct 2019 | 07:54 AM UTC
Chile: Protesters and police clash in Santiago October 28 /update 16
Protesters and police clash in Santiago on October 28, with further demonstrations expected October 29; heightened security presence and associated disruptions expected
Event
On Monday, October 28, Chilean President Sebastían Piñera fired several members of his cabinet in a reshuffle aimed to placate protesters. However, fresh protests broke out in downtown Santiago and other urban areas in the evening (local time) on Monday. Demonstrators lit bonfires on central Alameda Avenue, looted several shops, and clashed with riot police who used teargas to disperse the activists. Further demonstrations are expected to take place on Tuesday, October 29, and in the near term - particularly in major urban centers.
A heightened security presence, transportation and business disruptions are expected in all demonstration-affected areas.
Context
Demonstrations began on October 6 after the Chilean government announced an increase in metro and bus fares. The mass protests escalated in Santiago and other cities over the following days to denounce high costs of living, rising electricity prices, the privatization of water, and other social issues. According to the Chilean National Institute of Human Rights, 2840 people have been arrested and 582 have been injured in the protests. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) indicates that at least 18 people have been killed. The United Nations announced it would send a mission to Chile in order to investigate claims of human rights abuses during the wave of protests.
Advice
Individuals in Chile, particularly in Santiago, are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests due to the risk of violence, prepare for disruptions to transportation and business, and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities.
