More than 800 Students Arrested in Chile

Although demonstrations had been banned, hundreds of Chilean students gathered Thursday to protest for a better public education, but the police used teargas and water cannon trucks to prevent them to march through Santiago’s downtown and other cities.

Over 800 students were arrested thoughout the country and around 90 officers were injured, government spokesman Minister Andres Chadwick informed. “The total arrested students after the march yesterday rose up to 874 people and more than 90 policemen were injured,” Chadwick told local press on Friday.

Today high school, university students and teachers –who have been protesting for more than two months because of their dissatisfaction with the educational reforms of President Sebastian Pinera– were supposed to  give a response to the 21-point proposal that the government gave them last Monday to improve education in Chile, however, instead of a replica, demonstrators gave the executives six days to present a thorough reform of the educational system that meets all their demands.

(MS)

Source: AP