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The battle for Chile
The historic uprising of the Chilean people has dealt an irreparable blow to neoliberalism in the region, writes FRANCISCO DOMINGUEZ
Chilean protesters

IT ALL started with a minor misdemeanour by school students who collectively refused to pay fares on the Santiago metro in rejection of a price hike (to 830 pesos: 86p). This was part of a brutal austerity package, decreed by Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on October 6 2019.

On October 18, 78 metro stations, some banks, 16 buses and a few public buildings were set on fire by mysterious hooded men who were able to operate with impunity.

On October 19, Eric Campos, president of the Metro Workers Union, declared: “Strange that the police who were supposed to have been guarding the stations, were not there when they were set on fire.”

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