Sunday, April 8, 2007

800+ arrests of Chilean high school students

Chilean High School Students Riot Over Public Transportation Resulting In 819 Arrests
March 30, 2007 2:00 p.m. EST Linda Young - All Headline News Staff Writer

Santiago, Chile (AHN) - Rioting high school students took to the streets in Santiago, Chile where they were met by police officers in riot gear, some using water hoses on the students to drive them back. Although no one is sure what provoked the demonstration, at least one of the youth said it was over the new public transportation system. The new transportation system has left many parts of the capital without public transportation, BBC news reported Friday.

At least 819 people, including many under the age of 16, were arrested, according to BBC.
More than 100 police officers were injured in violence that prompted stores and businesses in the capital to close early, according to Euronews reports. The rioting took place on a day that leftist groups use annually to demonstrate called "The Day of the Young Combatant," to commemorate the day in 1985 when police killed two young brothers who were demonstrating against the Pinochet regime.


(Click here to read more)