Chile: At least 17 detainees in a new day of social protests in Chile

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At least 17 people have been detained this Friday in a day of social protests in Plaza Baquedano, in Santiago de Chile, which are held every Friday in memory of the social outbreak of October 2019 in Chile. This figure becomes the highest number of detainees so far this year.

Carabineros has reported that at the moment they have arrested 17 subjects in the capital for disorders, launching of Molotovins, current order, among other crimes. In addition, they have reported that two police officers were injured with injuries.

The police forces have dispersed the protests by throwing water and tear gas at the protesters, according to the Chilean media El Mercurio.

The protesters call was made through social networks, on a day that wanted to remember the deceased on October 18, 2019 and to which social organizations joined in memory of the victims, as reported by La Tercera.

Metro de Santiago has had to close the Universidad de Chile, Universidad Católica and Parque Bustamante stations due to the altercations, as well as several nearby streets have been cut off.

October 18, 2019 marked the beginning of the largest social mobilizations in recent Chilean history. They began as a mobilization against the rise in the price of public transport, but led to broader complaints against social inequality and in favor of a new Constitution, which will take shape after the election of a Constituent Assembly after the elections scheduled for the next April 11.

The role of the security forces, especially the Carabineros, has been the object of analysis and criticism in the last year, especially due to the possible excesses committed in their interventions. The National Institute of Human Rights (INDH) has registered more than 2,500 complaints and some 3,000 victims of abuse between October 2019 and March 2020.