Chile declares state of emergency as rail fare protests turn violent

MOBS of protesters smashed train stations and set fire to buildings as violence swept through Santiago after a sharp increase in metro fares.

Chile’s president declared a state of emergency in the capital after arson and clashes with police in the heart of South America’s wealthiest country.

On Friday night Santiago was shrouded in smoke as the high-rise headquarters of Enel, an energy company, was engulfed in flames and authorities battled fires at metro stops and banks across the city.

The state of emergency, established by Chile’s dictatorship-era constitution, grants the government additional powers to restrict freedom of movement and citizens’ right to assembly.

During a televised address from the presidential palace in the early hours of yesterday, President Sebastián Piñera criticised the protesters as “delinquents”. He said: “There will be no room for violence in a country with the rule of law at its core.”

The demonstrations began earlier this week when students jumped metro turnstiles en masse in a campaign against a rise in fares. The hike put Santiago’s metro among the most expensive in Latin America, at 830 pesos (90p) during rush hour. While Chile is the wealthiest country in the region, it is also the most unequal.

By Friday the demonstrations had left the subway and spread throughout the city, fuelled by anger over the rising cost of living, specifically healthcare, education and public services, while wages remain stagnant. “For many years there’s been an abuse of power,” Daniela, a 20-year-old student, her face partially covered, said.

“It’s not just students who are affected, it’s workers, it’s all the population. In truth, it affects everyone.”

Another student, Mariela, added: “We want them to lower the metro fare again because they aren’t putting salaries up. We want to unite to make the government listen.”

Police responded violently as protests escalated on the streets. The streets were wet from water cannon used to disperse protesters. One young woman was shot with a rubber bullet during clashes at the central station.

As night fell, Santiago was left haunted by the sight of armoured vehicles deploying tear gas, an image some have ominously linked to the days of dictatorship.

The protests take place as Chile prepares to host two major international conferences.