2019 Chilean State of Emergency

The 2019 Chilean State of Emergency are unfolding civil protests and various acts of violence throughout Chile in response to a raise in the Chilean capital's Metro subway fare, increased cost of living, and prevalent inequality in the country. The protests began in Chile's capital, Santiago, as a coordinated fare evasion campaign by high school students which led to the destruction of several subway stations in the Sanitago and open confrontations with the Chilean Police and Army. President Sebastián declared a state of emergency on September 19th, with curfews issued in several cities. The protests have at times turned violent, with clashes between police and rioters. Police have used tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets. Looting has also taken place and supermarkets, petrol stations and the high-rise headquarters of a major energy firm have been set of fire. During the riots, many civilians from the Santiago suburbs rushed to defend local supermarkets, after local radio stations called for volunteers to guard against rioters. Many civilians were armed, with a variety of improvised weapons, steel pipes, baseball bats, and hand guns.

Fare evasion

The protests began as a student-led demonstration against transport fares. In early October, the government announced that the metro rush hour prices would rise by 0.30 pesos ($US 0.04). Outrage grew after the price increase, leading secondary school students to conduct a mass fare evasion by jumping over the subway turnstiles, and, in some instances, destroying them.

Arson

During the night of September 18th, subway stations, supermarkets, and petrol stations were burned throughout Santiago, leading the president to call a state of emergency on September 19th. The New York Times said "Around the city, flames and smoke mixed with tear gas and water cannon spray as armed forces mobilized on the streets for the first time in almost 30 years in a country that still shudders at the memory of military rule".

Police were fully mobilized with officers on 12 hour shifts, convoy patrols, Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm Bo 105 helicopters, street barricades, tactical command centers, and reinforcements from the Anfofogasta based 1st Army Infantry Division, the local Santiago Army Garrison and Marines from Carriel Sur.

On October 20th, many supermarkets, shopping malls and cinemas remained closed as the protests continued. Curfews were imposed for that night in the Santiago Metropolitan Region, and the regions of Valparaíso, Biobío (including the regional capital, Concepción), and Coquimbo; as the curfew began in Santiago, many protesters remained on the street.

As rioting spread to other parts of the country, states of emergency were declared in the Valparaíso Region and Concepción Province. In an address to the nation in the evening, President Piñera announced the cancellation of the fare increase and the establishment of a dialogue panel, with representatives from across society, to discuss the underlying causes behind the unrest. Piñera also warned the country was "at war against a powerful enemy, who is willing to use violence without any limits".

Local authorities also announced the closure of schools on October 21st amd 22nd in most suburbs of Santiago and across the province of Concepción. Television coverage of four MOWAG Piraña armoured cars firing tear gas canisters repeatedly at roving looters in the affluent suburb of Las Condes was widely seen and controversial.

Social reform

On September 22nd, President Sebastián Piñera, a billionaire conservative who has been criticized for his response to the protests, promised to increase the basic pension by 20% and the minimum wage from $US 413 to $US 482. He also pledged tax rises on high income earners, a law that would see the state cover the costs of expensive medical treatment and the cancellation of a planned electricity rate hike.