Clashes in Chile for the commemoration of the social uprising of 2019

Clashes between protesters and police erupted in Santiago on Tuesday on the occasion of the commemoration of the third anniversary of the 2019 social uprising that led to the election at the end of 2021 of the young left-wing president Gabriel Boric.

The shops in the city center have lowered their curtains, the exit from classes has been exceptionally advanced and 25,000 police officers have been deployed in anticipation of new clashes as was the case during the two previous October 18ths.

In 2019, the discontent of students against the increase in the price of the metro ticket had been the starting point of a revolt to demand more social justice.

“Expression of pain”

"We're still in the same situation, we haven't won anything,"

said Andrea Valdebenito, a 43-year-old social worker.

Police used water cannons and tear gas against burning barricades and to disperse rallies around Place d'Italie, the traditional epicenter of the 345 demonstrations that repeated themselves between October 18, 2019 and March 20, 2020. before the pandemic put an end to the social turmoil, according to the National Institute of Human Rights (INDH).

In five months, around 30 people were killed in scuffles with the police, and some 400 suffered eye injuries.

To get out of the crisis, the previous conservative government had initiated a process of changing the constitution.

Written under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990), the current constitution is considered to be a brake on any fundamental social reform against the liberal doctrines which govern health, education and pensions in particular.

But the Chileans rejected in early September by 62% the proposal which emanated from a Constituent Assembly elected in May 2021. Since then, government and opposition have been consulting to establish a new constitutional process.

Read alsoIn Chile, a new Constitution to try to end the crisis

During the morning, Gabriel Boric, 36, who took office on March 11 on the promise of the establishment of a welfare state, acknowledged that his government has

which improve

.

According to him, this 2019 uprising

but