Student Movement Errupts in Chile

Youth attending what is known as Secondary School (7th-12th grades) have led demonstrations across Chile against the privativation of all schools and the planned elimination of free student bus and metro passes. The law known as LOCE will privitize education from kindergarten and up. University students mobilized last year to maintain the right to public university during the government of Socialist Party President Ricardo Lagos and now they join the future generations on the picket lines. Many equate privitization to a strategy from the years of dictatorship under Agusto Pinochet, of which, including healthcare was privitized.

In response to mass demonstrations, the government of Socialist Party President Michelle Bahelet meet the youth with police repression, including using waterhoes, known as "guanacos". One picture I saw shows a sign directed at Bachelet which says, "Michelle you were with us, now where are you?"

Mobilizations have taken place in major cities across the country with the support of university students and teachers. One chant being used is "El Cobre por el Cielo, La Educacion por el Suelo" ("Copper up in the Sky, Education on the Ground"). This is referring to the price copper, one of Chile's main national resource, reaching record breaking prices.

Bachelet is presently working on a compromise which I will soon post.

More info. Pictures 1, 2, 3.



















High School Students at Press Conference.