Chile: Protests continue as families hope for best possible end

(24 Oct 2019) Thousands of people took to the street in Santiago on Thursday to protest Sebastian Pinera's government.

Professor Pedro Alastuey is feeling firsthand the impact of the social unrest that the country is facing.

Classes have been suspended due to a general strike, preventing his son, who has Down Syndrome, from receiving therapy.

The closure of the schools is perhaps Professor Alastuey's biggest concern as his son has missed three therapy sessions.

Speaking to the Associated Press on Wednesday he said he fears that missing additional therapies could impact the advances his son has already made.

Promises of reform from President Sebastian Piñera have failed to quell the turmoil that has led to looting, rioting and at least 18 deaths since the protests began last week.

Despite his concern over missing therapy treatments for his son, Alastuey still believes the street demonstrations should continue.

"I think that people should keep on protesting," he said, saying people were entitled to a good health system and pension arrangements.

The unrest was triggered last week by a relatively minor rise in subway fares.

But it escalated with demonstrators seeking improvements in education, health care and wages in one of Latin America's wealthiest nations.

Piñera announced a number of economic reforms beginning Tuesday night, including an increase in the state pension and a minimum wage increase and on Thursday morning announcing a freeze on a 9.2% rise in electricity prices until the end of next year .

But the announcements have seeming failed to calm anger in the streets.

"It is too late," said Claudio Rivera Guzman, one of thousands gathered Thursday to protest.   

"If he (Pinera) had done it on Friday just as the people were going out it would have calmed things and it would not have gotten so bad.  But now those calming measures are not going to shut the people up."



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