Chilean students storm the senate chambers

[Sinister Cultural Marxist]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15397816


Chilean students occupy congress to press demands

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/56191000/jpg/_56191129_013192697-1.jpg Police confront students and parents demanding free education.
Continue reading the main story (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15397816#story_continues_1) Related Stories



Chile students clash with police (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15358921)
Deeper discontent (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-14487555)


More than 60 students and other protesters in Chile entered the Congress building in Santiago while a Senate committee debated next year's education budget.
Protesters unfurled a banner calling for a referendum on education and broadcast their action live via webcam.
Police blocked the entrance to the building.
Chilean students have been protesting for nearly six months demanding free public education and better schooling.
The student protesters called on their fellow students to join them at the Congress building to march on the presidential palace.
But police confronted a crowd of students and parents outside the building who were carrying signs demanding free education and a referendum on the issue.
Critical Education Minister Felipe Bulnes and others taking part in the Senate committee meeting hurriedly left the building.
Protesters shouted and threw coins at Mr Bulnes.
The Senate president, Guido Girardi, who is a member of the opposition Party for Democracy, spoke to the protesters and promised they would not be dislodged by force by the police.
He has been critical of the government's handling of the students' protests.
The students have been boycotting classes and mounting demonstrations for almost six months.
On Tuesday, police in Santiago used tear gas and water cannon in clashes with masked protesters who set up burning barricades and threw petrol bombs; 260 people were arrested.
The government said after these violent demonstrations that it would invoke an emergency security law to help quell student unrest - the most serious in Chile since 1990.
On Wednesday, students held another mass demonstration to press their demands; there were sporadic clashes across the city.
Talks over education reform broke down this month and there is no sign of a resolution.
Indeed, positions appear to be hardening.
Student leaders are demanding wholesale reform of Chile's education system, which they say is unequal and under-funded, but they have condemned the violence.
They want the central government to take full control of education and increase spending on public schools and universities.
President Sebastian Pinera has responded by promising limited reforms and around $4bn (£2.6bn) in extra funding.
On Tuesday, he approved a law increasing subsidies for children from poor backgrounds attending private schools.
But he has categorically rejected calls for full state control and free education.


Well, this certainly is an interesting contrast with the struggle in Greece. I applaud the Chilean students for staying united in the face of repression.

[The Jay]

W00T W00T. I needed some good news today.

[Commissar Rykov]

I am sure if the KKE was there they would have stopped them.:D Glad to see some good news today though.

[Seth]

2 reasons this isn't a big deal.

1. There's only 60.

2. They're students.

[Le Socialiste]

The only problem I see with this is that those protesting still appear to have faith in the existing system, with the belief that reforms (enacted by the government) will provide the relief they need. If the students fall complacent the ruling elite will only strip them of whatever gains they happen to make. Essential to their struggle is the realization that, in order to achieve lasting change, one must go beyond the state.

This said, it is encouraging that the students stormed the senate.

[Le Socialiste]

2 reasons this isn't a big deal.

1. There's only 60.

2. They're students.

So the demands of students are no longer worthy of the left's attention now? When did this happen?

[Seth]

So the demands of students are no longer worthy of the left's attention now? When did this happen?

Let me clarify: They're all students.

Compare and contrast with Greece.

[Blackscare]

Let me clarify: They're all students.

Compare and contrast with Greece.

They're students.... protesting for education reform. Also one of the first sentences says "about 60 students and other protesters...".


Also, had you read just a little bit (rather than doing what everyone here does and immediately grasped for a reason to write off mass action whenever possible) you'd know that these were one incidence in a 6 month struggle across Chile.

[Sasha]

dont know why this was in the Palestine subforum, moved to a more appropriate one

[Sinister Cultural Marxist]

The only problem I see with this is that those protesting still appear to have faith in the existing system, with the belief that reforms (enacted by the government) will provide the relief they need. If the students fall complacent the ruling elite will only strip them of whatever gains they happen to make. Essential to their struggle is the realization that, in order to achieve lasting change, one must go beyond the state.

This said, it is encouraging that the students stormed the senate.

It is also encouraging that Chile has not resorted to the kind of red-on-black squabbling we saw in Greece yesterday.

Anyways, they are not relying on legislative reform but a national plebiscite on their reform proposals. This is good, they understand that the people need to make their demands directly and not rely on the legislative process.


Let me clarify: They're all students.

Compare and contrast with Greece.

Workers and teachers have made their solidarity with the students quite clear


dont know why this was in the Palestine subforum, moved to a more appropriate one


I dont know why i put it in the Palestine subforum, i messaged sentinel about moving it but i suppose you have a more friendly sleep pattern and noticed it sooner

[Ocean Seal]

2 reasons this isn't a big deal.

1. There's only 60.

2. They're students.
Clearly you have no experience with this kind of movement. This isn't some middle class student movement, trying to make noise because they ran out of homework. These are students who want free education, who are frustrated with the country not paying attention to them, who repeatedly stand in solidarity with the worker's movement, and who have a very important demand which should absolutely be fulfilled.

[tom1992]

Big mistake, they were not only students, they were part of a civil movement against the goverment, people of all ages were in the protest.