Chile: Additional protests called on November 7, 9 /update 24

Event

Anti-government protests are to continue, with a protest scheduled in Alto Hospicio on Thursday, November 7, where some municipal workers are on a 72-hour strike since Wednesday, November 6.

Another protest is scheduled in the Metropolitan Region on Saturday, November 9, following clashes with police on Wednesday. Protesters in Santiago is set to gather in Las Condes at the intersection of Avenida Colon and Avenida Padre Hurtado on Saturday as of 16:30 (local time). The group will later march at 17:30 via Padre Hurtado, Alejando Fleming, Vital Apoquindo, Paul Harris, and General Blanche.

Other protests, including spontaneous ones, are to be expected daily across the capital and urban centers across Chile. A heightened security presence and transportation disruptions are expected at all demonstrations. Clashes cannot be ruled out.

Context

On November 6, President Sebastian Piñera presented the measure to raise the minimum wage as part of the concessions he announced on October 22. Despite this, protests took place across the country, resulting in clashes. On the same date in Santiago, a protest took place at a shopping center after employees showed up to work and found the center closed. Also, protests organized by No+Tag caused transportation congestion in six communes across Santiago. Violence was also reported in the city of Providencia including fires on roads. Local authorities indicated that such levels of violence had never been seen prior.

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. Some estimates indicate that 7000 people have been arrested and 20 people have been killed since the start of the protests. 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. Movement participants have now begun to call for the creation of a new Constitution through a Constituent Assembly in order to replace the current charter of rights (magna carta) which dates back to Pinochet's dictatorship.

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.