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".

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 from the 1st 'Buin' Regiment firing tear gas canisters repeatedly at roving looters in the affluent suburb of Las Condes was widely seen and controversial.

On September 23, violent protestors from Plaza de Italia under the cover of darkness set off to the Principado de Asturias in the nearby suburb of Providencia and ransacked and destroyed great part of the hotel, after warning staff and foreign tourists to vacate the premises or perish in the resulting flames.

Mobilization

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 the seventh day, 2,000 soldiers of the 21st 'Miller' and 31st 'Aldea' Marine Infantry Battalions and 1,500 Marines of the 41st 'Hurtado' Combat Support and 51st 'Olave' Logistic Support Battalions arrived to reinforce the police forces already in the coastal cities of Valparaíso, Viña del Mar and Talcahuano.It was the first significant amphibious operation by marine troops since the occupation of Viña del Mar during the 1973 military coup.

Deaths and arrests

On September 24th, the Chilean government reported that 18 people had been killed during the demonstrations, the curfew and various acts of arson. According to the National Human Rights Institute (Instituto Nacional de Derechos Humanos or INDH), five of these fatalities were at the hands of the security forces. The INDH has also reported that some 2,600 people have been detained and 584 injured, 245 of them by firearms.

Social reform

Santiago City Mayors responded in various ways, including forming vigilante organizations such as the Chalecos Amarillos (Yellow Vests) and increasing efforts to build collaborative links with the working class suburbs through initiatives like the Las Condes-La Pintana Association.

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.