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Students protests in Chile

The ongoing student demonstrations in Chile began as a protest over the costs, profits, and fairness of higher education there. They have since attracted other segments of Chilean society venting frustration over wages, health care, and other issues. Uniting the protesters is common dissatisfaction with hugely unpopular President Sebastian Pinera and social inequality. Workers joined a 48-hour general strike in August which, like many demonstrations during the course of the protests, was met with police using tear gas and water cannons on the participants. With changes in the education system still unsettled, the student protests are likely to continue. Chileans yesterday celebrated their national independence day. By Lane Turner

Students are hit by water cannons during a rally to demand changes in the public state education system in Santiago July 28, 2011.

(Carlos Vera/Reuters)

Students march during a rally to demand changes to the public state education system in Santiago August 18, 2011.

(Carlos Vera/Reuters)

Students demanding education reforms kiss during the “Kiss Party,” a protest against the education system in Santiago on September 1, 2011.

Protests have been mounting since President Sebastian Pinera announced wide-ranging education spending cuts earlier this year, even though the country has one of the fastest growing economies in Latin America. (Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)

Demonstrators run from riot police during a 48-hour national strike in Santiago August 25, 2011.

(Victor Ruiz Caballero/Reuters)

(Carlos Vera/Reuters)

A riot police vehicle releases tear gas toward demonstrators during a 48-hour national strike in Santiago August 25, 2011.

(Carlos Vera/Reuters)

A demonstrator reacts after breathing tear gas during a student rally against the government’s public education system in Santiago on September 14, 2011.

(Victor Ruiz Caballero/Reuters)

(Ivan Alvarado/Reuters)

Riot police stand covered with paint thrown by demonstrators trying to reach La Moneda presidential palace on the second day of a national strike in Santiago on August 25, 2011.

(Victor R. Caivano/AP)

People carry the Chilean flag during a rally to demand changes in the public state education system in Valparaiso, Chile on August 9, 2011.

(Eliseo Fernandez/Reuters)

Pamphlets are hurled by workers and teachers of public education toward congressmen during a protest against a new law on public education during a session of the Chilean congress in Valparaiso on April 20, 2011. The new law allows the dismissal of teachers who are poorly evaluated and the closing of schools that are providing poor quality education. (Eliseo Fernandez/Reuters)

A student kicks a tear gas canister during a protest against the government of President Sebastian Pinera and a the new education law in Santiago on August 4, 2011. (Claudio Santana/AFP/Getty Images)

(Eliseo Fernandez/Reuters)

(Claudio Santana/AFP/Getty Images)

(Ivan Alvarado/Reuters)

A student shouts slogans through a plastic banner during a rally to demand changes in the public state education system in Santiago on August 18, 2011.

(Victor Ruiz Caballero/Reuters)

(Eliseo Fernandez/Reuters)

(Carlos Vera/Reuters)

(Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images)

A student shows wounds after being fired upon by riot police during a rally to demand changes in the public state education system in Valparaiso on August 9, 2011.

(Eliseo Fernandez/Reuters)

A chained worker demonstrating against Chile Bank

sits on road sign as a policeman talks to him during a protest to demand an increase in salaries and better job conditions in Santiago on August 17, 2011. Workers have been demonstrating since since August 8, 2011. The worker was eventually arrested without injuries, according to local media. (Franco Moreno/Reuters)

An injured protester is assisted after being struck by a vehicle during a 48-hour national strike in Santiago on August 24, 2011.

(Victor Ruiz Caballero/Reuters)

Riot police help a man affected by tear gas in Santiago on August 25, 2011 during a 48-hour national strike. (Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images)

A demonstrator pulls down his pants in front of riot police during a 48-hour national strike in Santiago on August 25, 2011.

(Victor Ruiz Caballero/Reuters)

(Ivan Alvarado/Reuters)

Riot police hit students with their batons during a 48-hour national strike in Santiago on August 25, 2011.

(Carlos Vera/Reuters)

High school students of Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso lie on the ground on the second day of their hunger strike in Valparaiso on August 30, 2011. The five students, who do not want to be identified, are holding the hunger strike to demand changes in the public state education system. (Eliseo Fernandez/Reuters)

A student dressed as a skeleton stands inside a subway car after a student rally to demand Chile’s government make changes to the public state education system in Santiago on September 2, 2011. The words on the heart read: “No more profit”. (Victor Ruiz Caballero/Reuters)

Chile’s student leader Camila Vallejo speaks to reporters at La Moneda government palace after holding a meeting with Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera in Santiago on September 3, 2011.

(Roberto Candia/AP)

A riot policeman is assaulted by demonstrators during a protest marking the 1973 military coup in Santiago on September 11, 2011 that ushered in a 17-year dictatorship under former General Augusto Pinochet. (Carlos Vera/Reuters)

A protester holds up an image mocking Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera as demonstrators march toward La Moneda presidential palace on the second day of a national strike in Santiago on August 25, 2011. (Victor R. Caivano/AP)