This archive report was first published on 28 December 2019.
On December 16, 2019, a new round of protests erupted in Chile, with thousands of demonstrators occupying the Plaza Italia in Santiago.
Police responded with force, using water cannon and tear gas to disperse the crowds. However, after nearly two hours of confrontations, the protesters regained control of the plaza, according to AFP reporters.
"We are going to continue in the struggle until Pinera gives in to the people's demands," said Luis Rojas, 46, a protester.
The protests, which began over metro fare hikes, have escalated into the most severe outbreak of social unrest in Chile since the end of the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet nearly 30 years ago.
Chileans are taking to the streets to express their anger over inequality and to demand change from the country's elite.
On the same day, President Sebastian Pinera signed a decree calling for a plebiscite on April 26 to decide whether to replace the current constitution, which dates back to Pinochet's rule.
A fire broke out in the Cine Arte Alameda, a traditional cultural center near the Plaza Italia, during the protests. The fire started after police threw tear gas bombs at the building, according to witnesses. The flames were brought under control after almost an hour, but the center was almost completely destroyed.
