A group is on fire, after clashes during a student march in Santiago de Chile, on Friday. Photo: EFE
A march of high school students to demand improvements to the education system in Chile and demand an increase in food scholarships, the end of credit for higher education with state endorsement and a public, free, non-sexist and quality education, ended this Friday with a violent incident and the microphone fire in the center of James.
About a thousand students gathered on Alameda Avenue, Santiago’s main artery, wearing their school uniforms and backpacks, carrying large canvases with legends with complaints against the public system. education, which has been the focus of criticisms and protests over the past decade in Chile.
“In the face of poor nutrition and education in the market, high school students have risen up,” read one of the banners.
Students complain about poor nutrition and low quality infrastructure of public schools.
The government of President Gabriel Boric, a former student leader, whose government has promised to make improvements to public education centers, students were accepted to listen to their requests.
High school students marched on Friday in Santiago de Chile. Photo: EFE
violent scene
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The march, which was more peaceful, had an episode of extreme violence, when a group of hooded men pulled over to stop a public transport bus, they forcibly removed the driver and passengers, smashed windows and then set it on fire by throwing Molotov cocktails.
Police used a squirt gun to put out the vehicle’s fire as special forces clashed with some students.
This is about of the third bus that caught fire amid student protests this week. After setting one of them on fire, police arrested two students, where one was detained.
In addition, near the La Moneda presidential palace, some demonstrators threw Molotov cocktails at the Carabineros ’armored vehicles.
Secondary students in Chile are demanding improvements in infrastructure and in the quality of education. Photo: EFE
The Central Police Prefecture itself reported via Twitter how “subjects threw incandescent devices at Public Order Control Personnel (COP) on Zenteno street along Alameda” (behind the government headquarters) ).
The clashes later continued in front of the University of Santiago, in the Estación Central community.
Due to the incidents, some Metro stations were closed.which did not reopen until after the march, and diverted traffic from downtown lanes.
Repeated claims
High school students have staged at least a dozen demonstrations demanding improvements to the education system since Boric, 36, took office on March 11th.
A few weeks ago, almost daily groups of students from the five most prominent high schools in the city protested to seek a solution to the infrastructure problems of their schools. On several occasions they clashed with the police.
President Boric warned in late April that “violence is not the way.” The former student leader assured then: “We have doors open to deal with the conflicts we have inherited” and those who want to burn public vehicles or use violent means to defend their demands, “have to respond. in law, as appropriate. “
The government has announced an investment of 10,000 million pesos (about 12 million dollars) to invest in infrastructure improvements.
Education Minister Marco Antonio Ávila described the students ’requests as acceptable, because“ there is really a problem with the infrastructure, ”seen in a census conducted ten years ago.
He added that “these legitimate requests that we share have a solution through dialogue.”
Source: AP, ANSA and AFP
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Source: Clarin