On the anniversary of the violent protests against social inequality and the conservative government in Chile, at least two churches were set on fire in the capital Santiago de Chile.
Photos from yesterday (local time) showed how the tower of the Parroquía de la Asuncion collapsed because the structure of the building could no longer withstand the flames. It is one of the oldest churches in Santiago.
According to Chilean media reports, the Iglesia de San Francisco de Borja, which is regularly used by the police for ceremonies, had also been set on fire. Thousands of demonstrators had initially gathered peacefully in Plaza Italia, some also called “Plaza de la Dignidad” (Place of Dignity).
New protests before voting on the new constitution
The police had planned a large-scale operation with a view to the anniversary of the social protests. In October and November 2019, thousands took to the streets in Chile every day to demand better access to health care and education and a move away from the neoliberal economic system. More than 30 people were killed. The police in Chile had come under fire for their often brutal behavior.
Recently, the protests in the South American country had increased again. On October 25th, the Chileans will vote on whether they want a new constitution – that was one of the main demands of the demonstrators last year. The current text from 1980 comes from the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.
