[NYTr] Chile: 400 Arrested
 
Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2007 23:55:22 -0500 (CDT)


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Los Angeles Times Service - Aug 30, 2007 (No URL)

CHILE: 400 ARRESTED, WITH COMMENTARY BY DANIEL del SOLAR

A senator is among dozens injured in scuffles with police.

SANTIAGO, CHILE -- Chilean police using tear gas and water cannons
arrested more than 400 (NOW REPORTED TO BE 600 ON THE DAY AFTER THE
EVENTS) people among (HUNDREDS OF) thousands of protesters marching
Wednesday in the capital (AND THROUGHOUT THE NATION) to demand better
salaries and working conditions at a time when the economy is booming
(FOR SOME).

Dozens of people(MOSTLY STUDENTS AND), including journalists and a
senator, were injured in scuffles with the police, who blocked off the
city center. Some police officers also were injured. (DOZENS INJURED,
400 ARRESTED)

(HUNDREDS OF)Thousands of workers from the nation's largest labor
federation marched to pressure the government to change laws and
improve pay to give workers a portion of the soaring profits Chile's
(MOSTLY FOREIGN OWNED) industries have enjoyed in recent years. AS A
RESULT OF BEING OWNED BY TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS, MOST OF THE
PROFITS ARE LEAVING CHILE AND WAGES CONTINUE TO SO LOW THAT MANY
CHILEANS, THE NEOLIBERAL ECONOMIC MODEL IN LATIN AMERICA, FIND
THEMSELVES BEING SQUEEZED BY RISING PRICES FOR BASIC NESECITIES...BREAD
HAS INCREASED IN PRICE BY 50% IN RECENT MONTHS AND PROMISES TO DOUBLE
BY THE END OF THE YEAR.)

Local television showed Sen. Alejandro Navarro of the ruling coalition
with blood running from a head wound after a riot officer struck him
with a truncheon.

Deputy Interior Minister Felipe Harboe said the incident would be 
investigated.

The center-left government has maintained a largely free-market
economic model, which includes free-trade agreements with the United
States and other countries.

Protest organizers called for higher pensions and better education
(MORE SPENDING ON EDUCATION, A SOCIAL GOAL THAT HAS BEEN PROMOTED BY
STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS SINCE THE ASSUMPTION OF POWER BY PRESIDENT
BACHELET, healthcare and housing services.

Chile, the biggest copper producer in the world, has benefited (VERY 
SLIGHTLY) from high prices for the metal (AS 75% OF THE COPPER INDUSTRY
HAS BEEN HANDED TO FOREIGN CORPORATIONS. The central bank has forecast
economic growth of about 6% for this year(OVERALL, BUT LITTLE OF THIS
GROWTH IS LIKELY TO BENEFIT THE MAJORITY OF CHILE'S WORKERS)

The nation is considered an economic model in Latin America and has one
of the lowest poverty levels in the region (DEPENDS ON WHO IS COUNTING,
but President Michelle Bachelet's government, FORCED TO USE THE
DICTATORSHIP'S CONSTITUTION IN PLACE FOR MANY YEARS AND EXTREMELY
HOSTILE TO BENEFITING THE WORKING POOR) has faced frequent protests
from students and workers who want to share in the prosperity.

Last week, Bachelet formed a council to propose measures to boost 
employment, income, competition and social equality.  (THE COMMISSION
WHOSE COMPOSITION REFLECTS THE RANGE OF POLITICAL THOUGHT CURRENTLY
ALLOWED, WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEA.)

Daniel del Solar
e-mail:  solarmedia@hotmail.com

IF you WANT PEACE work for JUSTICE
 
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