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The Chilean Student Movement

The Chilean Student Movement and State Repression

Over the last several weeks, students throughout Chile have been protesting the Chilean government over the continuing privatization of public universities. Last week, students in many of the departments in public universities entered a strike. Historically, university education remained a human right for all students in the public system, but over recent years, State officials have been gradually turning to a private system. Many Chilean students face the possibility of being forced to terminate their studies if education costs continue to rise.

On Wednesday, April 20th, students marched in the streets of Santiago and Valparaíso, and there they met violent repression from local police armed with armored cars (guanacos), chemical spray, and tear gas. In Santiago alone, over 7,000 students gathered for the march, and police detained approximately 60 students after attacking the march. Following the march, there were several confrontations with local police near university campuses throughout the city. At approximately 7:00 PM, 200 students in Valparaíso entered the congressional building to protest for student rights.

Student strikes have been continuing over the last week, and there have been numerous provocations by the Chilean police near notoriously active student campuses. In Santiago, there were street marches in downtown and student districts throughout the week. On Thursday, April 28th, approximately 5,000 students marched in downtown to the Ministry of Education, and upon arriving, the local police attacked student demonstrators again.

The student strikes continue as the Chilean youth struggle to maintain educational rights for all students, and actions are planned for this Wednesday, May 4th.