Fresh student protests in Chile
Almost 150.000 Chilean students and protesters took the streets of Santiago in a number of cities on Thursday (April 11), demanding free education.
The protest was mostly non-violent until the provocative stance of the police fueled massive reactions and violence erupted. Some threw stones and Molotov cocktails against the riot forces who responded with tear gas and water canons.
According to Digital Journal, the Student leader, Camila Vellejo, said the protest showed the strength of the student movement in an election year: “This symbolises that the student and social movement didn’t go home and that that the movement is here to stay”
Dafne Concha, the spokeswoman of the parents and guardian groups explained on Euronews why so many people are backing the campaign: “Education is a right and not a privilege for some and not a business, not for profit making and negotiating which it has been all these years.”
Large protests against privatization of the Chilean education system have been ongoing for over 3 years and up to now, while the conservative PM, President Pinera, is stepping back. Nonetheless, the students demand abolition of all the privatization plans.
http://eagainst.com/articles/fresh-student-protests-in-chile-2/