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Clashes on Friday broke out between protesters and riot police in the Chilean capital, Santiago, two days before a historic referendum was held in which Chileans decide to keep the constitution inherited from the Pinochet dictatorship or change it with a new constitution. The protesters call for the implementation of social reforms, the elimination of class inequality in the country and the change of the current constitution, which they consider an obstacle to achieving greater social justice.
Friday lasted hours in Piazza Italia In the Chilean capital, SantiagoWhich has been the center of the protest for more than a year, new clashes between police and protesters two days before the referendum on the constitution. The protesters threw stones at the police. Security forces responded with tear gas and a chemical water cannon.
Large police forces have been deployed since morning, including dozens of riot police, armored vehicles and water cannons. And he faced hundreds of people who gathered in the square on Friday.
Chile: the lost revolution
These protests come this time two days before the historic referendum in which Chileans will decide if they want to change the current constitution inherited from the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1990) and many consider it an obstacle to achieving more social justice.
On November 15, 2019, the government coalition and the main opposition parties reached a historic agreement on the organization of this referendum, after violent protests that lasted a month.
“We have to go vote on Sunday, but we have to keep the pressure on the government in the streets to change its position,” said a protester who introduced himself as Michel Leitrans, 30. “The violence will continue, it cannot be avoided,” he added, adding that “if there is no violence, then there is no pressure.”
More than 25,000 people gathered in this square last Sunday to celebrate the first anniversary of the start of the protest movement that the Covid-19 epidemic stopped in March and resumed at the end of August.
At least 30 people died and thousands were injured or arrested during these protests.
France 24 / AFP
