Subway services temporarily suspended in Santiago, Chile amid protests

October 18 saw the suspension of subway services in Chilé's capital city Santiago, due to student protests against a fare hike. High school students reportedly swarmed subway stations and trapped thousands of commuters on their way home from work. The students had set up barricades and set fires at the entrances to subways stations. According to international media, the demonstrators attacked police vehicles by throwing stones. It was also reported that they burnt at least one bus. On the other hand, the police had been trying to break up the protests with tear gas withdrew from some subway stations. 

Chile's President Sebastián Piñera had announced a state of emergency in affected areas and allowed the authorities to restrict rights to assembly movement. He reportedly invoked a special state security law to prosecute the demonstrators who were responsible for the city-wide damage. He claimed that the Chile government would call for a dialogue to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the increase in fares. The government has also filed a complaint under the State Security Law which carries prison sentences of three to five years against the protesters.

In a speech from the government palace, President Piñera said, “the security of residents, protecting goods and the rights of each one of our compatriots who have seen complications from the actions of true criminals.” 

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Gloria Hutt, the Transportation Minister had earlier rejected lowering fares, said: “it’s possible that during the next week the functioning (of the subway system) returns in a gradual fashion.” 

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The demonstrations

Chile is considered to be Latin America's wealthiest nation. The protests by student began earlier this week when hundreds of demonstrators mobbed several stations in Santiago due to a 4 percent increase in subways fares from about $1 to $1.16. The protests reportedly turned violent on Friday afternoon. The officials had closed down all 136 metro stations in the city. An official claimed that the metro stations will remain closed through the weekend as serious destruction made it impossible to operate trains safely. He further added, there had been more than 200 incidents on Santigo's subway system in the previous days and the protests mostly involved school children and older students jumping barriers and forcing gates. 

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(With agency inputs)