Massive protests against health, living costs in Chile

By Muhammed Emin Canik

SANTIAGO, Chile (AA) - Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets here Friday to protest the high cost of living and health services.

More than 800,000 protesters gathered at Italy Square in Santiago on day seven of protests to show their response to President Sebastian Pinera’s government and its policies, according to local media reports.

Nineteen people were killed and more than 500 people injured since the start of protests as peaceful demonstrations turned violent.

Last week, protesters jumped turnstiles at metro stations in Santiago without paying for tickets in protest against a 4% transport fare hike.

Pinera announced concessions, including rolling back the fare increase, an increase to the minimum wage and putting a hold on hiking electricity prices until next year, in a bid to contain the strife.

Half of Chile’s workers make $550 or less monthly, according to the country's statistics authority.

The government declared a 15-day state of emergency last Saturday, extending it later to cities in the country’s north and south.