One killed, 1,400 arrested during Chile's national strike

One killed, 1,400 arrested during Chile's national strike

2011-08-27 12:40:31 GMT+7 (ICT)

SANTIAGO (BNO NEWS) -- A 16-year-old boy has died and almost 1,400 others have been arrested during a two-day national strike in Chile, officials said on late Friday.

The boy, identified as Manuel Gutiérrez, died early Friday morning after receiving gunshot wounds during a protest in the municipality of Macul. His family claimed that he was shot from a police patrol car, according to La Nación newspaper.

Deputy Interior Minister Rodrigo Ubilla said that about 206 people were injured during the protests during the strike, including 153 members of Chile's National Police and 53 protesters. He added that 1,394 people were arrested.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in the Chilean capital of Santiago on Wednesday and Thursday after the country's Central Workers' Union organized a 48-hour nationwide strike, demanding improved labor and education conditions.

According to CUT president Arturo Martínez, the general strike was held to express the demands from various social sectors, to demand respect for social and citizen rights and to reiterate the need to have a country with a new economic model, a new constitution and a new work code. The rally's resolution also calls for an immediate referendum on education.

Clashes were seen in several parts of Santiago, including in La Moneda, La Pincoya, San Bernardo, Puente Alto, and San Ramón, where municipality offices were looted. Supermarkets were also looted and several fires were set in different parts of the city.

Throughout August, Chilean students, along with teachers and other education workers, have been protesting for a fundamental change in the educational system, demanding an end to privatized education and asking for a government which can guarantee full access, quality and funding of public education at all its levels.

Nonetheless, President Sebastian Pinera has criticized the protests, as Chile has had an 8.4 percent growth during the year's first semester, which has been the fastest in more than 15 years. Since he took office in January 2010, the country has averaged an annual growth of 6 percent.

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