Chilean police tear gas student marchers

[on_strike_usaexpat]

SANTIAGO, Chile - Police used tear gas and water cannons to try to break up Chile's biggest student protests in decades on Tuesday as thousands of students marched to demand the government spend more of its fat budget surplus on education.

Dozens of students were arrested in the capital and protest leaders said half a million students occupied hundreds of schools all over Chile calling for free bus fare, free college entrance exams, more teachers and improved school buildings.

Made it to the international wires! Got a whiff of the tear gas and saw the disorder close up when I stepped out to get a haircut yesterday afternoon. Amazing development viewed from the perspective of a North American expat. Actually the debate has now extended to the quality of public education in general (tests continually show the gap between the public and private schooled kids). There were also Chilean reporters that got beaten by the police. Everything wide open in the media here, no coverup, what a breath of fresh air (except for the tear gas and Santiago smog) compared to the Fascist States of America.

 

[on_strike_usaexpat]

I guess today's talks weren't fruitful. From my high-rise apartment with a view, I see the main thoroughfare Alameda has just been closed and the water cannon and tear gas vehicles moving around.