CHILE: Michelle Bachelet's nascent government is facing its first major challenge with riots, strikes and a countrywide boycott by more than one million students.
A national strike called by the Co-ordinating Assembly of Grade School Students paralysed the Chilean education system on Monday, with hundreds of schools closed from Antarctica to Arica. Teenagers occupied schools, barricading the entrances with their desks. Riots raged for 10 hours in Santiago as police used tear gas and water cannons on marching students. About 370 were arrested.
The students, who raised their complaints four weeks ago, are demanding free use of public transport, lowered fees for college entrance exams and a voice in government policy. At the base of their protest is the demand for a potent upgrade of the public school system. A full 50 per cent of high-school graduates fail the college entrance exam, leaving them unable to attend university. In private schools, 91 per cent pass the exam and have the opportunity to continue studying.
Last night, the Chilean senate met in a special session to hear students' complaints. President Bachelet, who assumed power only three months ago, has already offered emergency spending of $60 million (€47 million). The offer was rejected by students who, in addition to extra finance, are demanding a prominent voice in education policy.
Monday's strike was the largest in Chilean history. Authorities were stunned by the organisation of the protest, now widely known as "the March of the Penguins" - in reference to the protesters' school uniforms.
Using Microsoft Messenger, cell phones and fotologs, the students have rewritten the rules of dissent with their ability to organise marches and make collective decisions. The organisers are all very young, average age 16, and their support goes all the way down to 11 year olds.
Hundreds of colleges are occupied and classes have been cancelled for the past 10 days. Alliances between poor students at state schools and pupils in the private education system have erased the usual class lines that mark Chilean social protests.
"In any other country, the fact that 5,000 students are marching through the streets demanding a better education would be the object of national pride," said Maria Jesus Sanhueza, a 16-year-old spokeswoman for the students. "The government should be thanking us, not beating us down."
Admiration for the students is nearly universal, with some 87 per cent of Chileans polled saying they support the movement.
"These are not crazy revolutionaries," wrote Patricio Fernandez, an influential columnist in the newspaper the Clinic. "They are bored that the wealthy schools educate those who will be boss, while their school trains them to be workers. More than combating Chilean authorities, they are convincing them."
In a sign the movement is spreading, nearly all universities shut on Monday and the teacher's union went on strike.
Thousands of shop-owners refused to open in solidarity.
Complaints of brutal police tactics at recent marches have heightened the tension between Carabineros de Chile (the national police force) and the public, leading to further violence.