Chile strike timeline: Two days of nationwide strikes sweep the country

I Love Chile will maintain an ongoing timeline of Chile’s national two-day strike. For more information on the strike, see “Two-day national strike planned across Chile.”

23:19 Shots heard in the community of El Bosque in the Los Morros, where police halted the the attempted looting of a supermarket.

23:18 Neighbors reported sounds of gunfire in the area of Tobalaba and Grecia. The public transportation is all but nonexistent.

23:12 A police officer was shot and wounded in the leg in the Pincoya area , north Santiago. In the same place, another policeman was injured by gunfire on Wednesday morning. The officer, identified as Christian Kunstmann, was taken to Hospital.

22:55 A member of the press was hit by a pellet during incidents in Villa Francia, an area of west Santiago.  Police dispersed gang at gas station.

22:18 A Hooded gang is surrounding a gas station in the area of Villa Francia.

22:14 Protesters armed with chains break street lighting in a large area of Pincoya, north of Santiago, where this morning a policeman was injured.

22:11 Transantiago reports three lines covering the area of  Cerro Navia, 505, 510 and 513, have suspended services.

22:10 A demonstration blocked the road between Concepción and Talcahuano, in Alonso de Ribera, in the Bío Bío Region.

22:07 About 200 people in Victoria Square, Valparaiso bang pots, install barricades and attacked police with stones.

22:06 At Rotonda Athens and Tomás Moro, Las Condes, a group of about 20 people are banging pots.

22:01 Metro station Santa Rosa closed on the line 4A due to protests on the surface.

21:59 Protesters begin to install barricades at Villa Francia, west of Santiago.

21:56 One hundred people at Plaza Egaña are banging pots

21:45 Up to 500 people gathered at Plaza Ñuñoa banging pots (cacerolazo).

19:59  Traffic on Av Colon, between San Ignacio and Las Heras, remains closed by roadblocks.

19:55 Some supermarkets in eastern Santiago decided to close their doors early to avoid inconvenience to their employees.

19:51 The president of the Confederation of Workers, Arturo Martinez, acknowledged that three of the four paths proposed by the Metropolitan Municipality for the march called for tomorrow. The idea for the organization is at least one of the tours start at Plaza Italia and going down the Alameda to Ricardo Cumming.

19:47 The operator SuBus reported that “except for services that operate from St. Bernard (201-211-211E-201c-211c-201)”, the rest of the fleet “operates as normal.”

19:40 The Secretary of State announced that it has a contingency plan, including monitoring by the Task Force of Traffic Control (UOCT) and the Monitoring Centre Transantiago Buses to “apply quick detours “at roadblocks.

19:38 Transport Minister, Pedro Pablo Errazuriz, noted that most Transantiago drivers did not adhere to call to strike.

19:29 As the hours pass fewer cars are seen in areas of Vitacura and Las Condes.

19:20 Speaking from La Moneda Palace government spokesman, Andrés Chadwick, reported on the first day of nationwide strike. According to Chadwick, so far 348 have been detained for public disorder. 19 policemen and 15 civilians have been injured nationwide. He said.”We feel very happy to see that the objective of the stoppage has not been fulfilled,”

18:48 Youths holding a UDI campus persist.

18:40 The operative unit for transit control in Santiago says that there is traffic congestion at Américo Vespucio Av. heading south to Tobalaba and Av. Kennedy.

18:28 CUT has been given permission to march on Thursday as part of the national strike. The march route will end in the area of Cumming and Alameda in Santiago.

18:10 The Santiago Metro informs that all of its services are fully operational and there are no disruptions to transit schedules.

17:45 The Health Minister is grateful that the students in Buin have ended their hunger strike.

17:31 The president of the Federation of the Ministry of Public Service said that they will participate in marches tomorrow.

17:30 Chile’s Ipsa index ended 0.1% lower today as investors got weary about the national 48-hour general strike.

17:14 CUT responds to Piñera’s statements by saying that social inequality damages Chile.

17:00 Twitter users announce that several metro stations have serious operational problems, particularly at the Santa Ana station on line 5.

16:46 Transportation Minister, Pedro Pablo Errazuriz is touring several stops in Transantiago to understand the situation users face.

16:07 The organizers of SANFIC reported that this afternoon’s events will be suspended at the GAM and Lastarria 90, because of the national strike.

16:00 The  four routes that have been approved by the Metropolitan Municipality will be open for marching starting at 9:30. All routes will converge at Calle Cumming and Alameda. Demonstrations will be allowed until 16:00 hours Thursday.

15:34 Governors of Bío-Bío, Arauco y Ñuble announced a low turnout to the CUT strike. Trade and transport functioned normally in Bio Bio while only two percent of people adhered to the strike in Ñuble. Eight percent of people in Arauco participated. Most of the participants in Arauco were involved in health and human services.

15:00 Following the incidents in San Diego with Alameda police are facing protestors with water hoses and tear gas.

14:52 Metro Santiago reported that the metro will function as normal. At 16:00 hours the trains will increase and prices will remain as usual.

14:49 Traffic was restored on the roads north and south of Alameda.

14:46  Sub-secretary of the Interior Rodrigo Ubilla says that the mobilization of the CUT was a huge failure and that the majority of cities are functioning normally.

14:39 Rocks are being thrown at police from both bridges on Alameda.

14:31 Carabineros shoot tear gas and water on Paseo Ahumada. The majority of businesses are closed.

14:30 The Chief of the Metropolitan Zone José Luis Ortega,  said that there are concerns about tonight. There will be a large deployment of personnel in all of Santiago with some areas already being identified.

14:23 Hooded people launch molotov cocktails from the inside the University of Santiago.

14:00 The Governor of Santiago, Cecilia Perez announced the authorized sections of the city for tomorrow’s simultaneous marches. Marches are authorized on Calle Cumming only. “Any other routes than those proposed by the Administration are not authorized.” The Governor reiterated the need to have dialogue in order to avoid disturbances. Approved Routes include: Exposicion to Almeda West, Estacion Mapocho to Balmaceda, and San Martin and Cumming.

13:39 The Chamber of Commerce reports that the strike has had no effect on the metropolitan region’s business.

13:39 The Health Ministry reports that only 6% of a work force totalling 100,000 people have participated in the strike.

12:54 Viña del Mar. A peaceful march has been carried out by workers and students from the main plaza in Viña del Mar. Aside from disrupting some traffic, no incidents were reported.

12:54 According to CUT a large line of people is marching to Gran Avenida,  to the north, past Américo Vespucio.

12:38 La Serena. Protest have been reported, but no significant incidents have occurred.

12:34 Atacama. Manifestations have been reported in the Atacama region, primarily in Antofagasta.

12:22 Copiapó. Radio Cooperativa reports that the family of an 18 year old man stated that he was arrested on his way to the hospital for his child’s birth. Police believed him to be part of the students who were throwing rocks at a nearby school.

12:18 The transport authority announced that peak hour for the Santiago metro will be brought forward for 16:00. More trains will be frequenting the metro lines as is normal for 17:00, but the tariff will not be raised for this period.

12:17 Plaza de Armas, Talca. A group of protesters are holding peaceful strike actions.

12:14 President Piñera states at a press conference today, “The instrument is wrong (…) It’s one thing to strike, it’s another to paralyze a country… When the country is paralyzed no one wins, everybody loses.” He further stated that the government is fully aware that there are many problems still to be resolved.

12:11 The vice president of the ex-pedagogic student federation cited more than one thousand protesters in Grecia Av.

12:08 “The citizens have shown today that they do not support the paralysis of the country, as many have gone to their respective jobs today,” the president of the Workers Commission, Felipe Salaberry, said today.

12:04  Sub-secretary of the interior Rodrigo Ubilla, says that 35 people were detained  and 11 injured during CUT strike. Nine injured were policemen 2 were civilians.

12:00 Plaza Baquedano, Santiago. Approximately 150 protesters, primarily students and workers, march down the streets towards the West along Alameda Av. Some scuffles with carabineros have been reported, but otherwise the protest remains calm.

12:00 Grecia Av. with Macul Av., Santiago. Confrontations between protesters and carabineros (local police).

Protests in Downtown Chile Photo Credit: Melissa Vrabel

11:55 Martinez says that the success of the strike shows that the workers have reason to protest.

11:50 The transport operation authority reported that another march is heading north along Americo Vespucio Av. to Presidente Riesco Av. and through Pajaritos as well. There have also been disturbances reported in Alameda Av. by Irene Morales area.

11:48 CUT president Martinez says that the points of reunion this Thursday are Plaza Italia, Central Station, Mapocho Station and San Diego de Placer.

11:41 Aanother group is marching from the south on Macul to Altura de Grecia according to the CUT.

11:40 Sub-secretary Rodrigo Ubilla, says the goverment has realized a new balance of  the security situation in the country.

11:27  University and secondary students march on Macul, blocking traffic.

11:09 Copiapó–students maintain an occupation of various streets in the city and have been clashing with police since 7:30.

11:07 Approximately six people have been arrested by GOPE (Special Operations Police officer) in the operation to restore traffic in Santa Rosa and Avenida Americo Vespucio.

10:48 - Chile’s national carrier, LAN Airlines, has said its flights were operating normally during the day, but as a preventive measure called for passengers of international flights to arrive to the airport three hours before their schedule departure time and two hours for domestic travelers.

10:38 .- In Maipú, at least 300 workers at the Institute of Social Welfare (former INP) and others are conducting a march on the road east of Gladys Avenue Marin.

10:28 .- A policeman was slightly wounded after being bitten by a dog while facing those responsible for the barricades near the main Emergency Hosptial.

10:25 Police with tear gas had to face a group of 20 masked men who threw stones from the Architecture Building at the University of Chile, on Portugal street. Many of them were located on the roof of the building which features a canvas that says “Strong to the end.” Civilian passers-by were affected by tear gas fumes.

10:18 Police officers used water cannons and tear gas to disperse a group of about 200 people at the intersection of Santa Rosa with Amerigo Vespucci, after they blocked  traffic. Carabineros diverted the flow of vehicles going from west to east by Amerigo Vespucci south on Santa Rosa.

10:18 Bellas Artes, Santiago. A small group of people waving banners, shouting and honking walked down Merced Av. towards Plaza de Armas. No buses were reported in the area.

10:08  The president of CUT, Arturo Martinez refutes the government saying that they are trying to show normalcy “When the whole country knows that the country  is not normal today.”

9:52  The Santiago Metro has reported no one is being allowed to enter at the Santa Rosa on Line 4A because of disturbances outside the station.

9:48 Police clashed with masked protesters outside headquarters of the University of Chile

9:35 The Santiago Metro (@metrodesantiago) reported that its network is operational #paronacional

9:23 Government spokesman Andrés Chadwick has said that everything is working in “very normal terms” but we do not want people to be put at risk.”

9:20 Minister Laurence Golborne tweeted: “Inspecting the Santiago airport operation. So far so normal. Thanks to the workers who make it happen.”

9:05 The Transport Minister Pedro Pablo Errazuriz asked via Twitter to the CUT and Arturo Martínez to “condemn the barricades which are affecting thousands of workers in this country.”

9:00 Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport. Airport workers are protesting with music and dance at Chile’s main international airport.

8:51 A small group of hooded men cut off traffic on the Alameda in front of the headquarters of the University of Chile and clash with police

8:38 Barricades remain outside the headquarters of the University of Chile. Masked protesters pelt  policemen with stones and sticks.

8:40 The Undersecretary of the Interior has made a positive statement of the first hour nationwide strike. He said that public transport remains normal and where there were barricades the situation remains under control.

8:20 Santiago’s International Airport remains open and functioning normally. A large number of police are in the area of .

7:40 Traffic on Av. San Diego is being diverted by Tarapacá, because of disturbances in the underpass of Allegiance.

7:35 Manuel Gutiérrez Molina, 62 years was hit by  Transantiago bus #207. In addition, they found “miguelitos” of different sizes in central Santiago.

7:30 – 11:00 Rotonda Atenas, Las Condes, Santiago. A small group of students were shouting and banging cazerolas (pots and pans) by the roundabout throughout the morning. This was accompanied by a heavy police and neighborhood security presence.

7:28 There are barricades at the intersection of Alameda and Pajaritos.  Transit with caution.

7:25 Buin, on  highway 5 South towards Santiago there is a barricaded of burning tires. High congestion in the area.

7:20 At the intersection of Esperanza Romero a vehicle was burned out completely. Also in Providence with Eliodoro Yanez, barricades impede traffic.

7:15 A lot of traffic congestion in Alameda caused by barricades outside the USACH. The Metro reports that the ULA station access is being controlled due to incidents in the suburbs.

6:40 Barricades in Bellavista, Pio Nono and  Santa Maria Av (near to the I Love Chile offices)are cutting off traffic on both sides. Students stop light vehicles with large barricades. Carabineros have not been present at the site.

6:35 Av Matta, Augustine, Santo Domingo are some of the streets that have been taken over by barricades. Carabineros are working to normalize the traffic and break the barricades.

6:34 Police are working to normalize traffic  on Avenida Vicuña Mackenna with Irarrázabal and remove barricades set up by hooded strikers.

6:30 Police said the bomb alert in the Central Post was a false alarm and did not find any explosive devices at that location

6:28 The Santiago Metro reported that train service is operating normally in all stations.

6:10 Incidents at Irarrázabal and Vicuña Mackenna Avenue: hooded strikers set fire to barricades in the middle of the street preventing the passage of vehicles. Carabineros not yet on scene.

2:12 According to information from Radio Bio Bio, police clashed with masked protesters in Population Pincoya Huechuraba, where one police officer was wounded on one of his hands from  a gun shot from the crowd.

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