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Piera asks for troops back on Chile's streets despite reports of 'grave' abuses
President sends bill to lawmakers to allow military to protect public infrastructure, as protests that have left 26 dead continue
Reuters in Santiago
Tue 26 Nov 2019 13.45 EST
Chile’s President Sebastián Piñera has asked lawmakers to allow troops back on the streets to defend key public infrastructure, despite fresh reports of “grave” abuses by security forces over five weeks of riots.
The continuing protests in Chile over inequality and a shortfall in some social services have left at least 26 dead and thousands injured. They have also hobbled the capital’s public transport system, once the envy of Latin America, and caused billions in losses for private business.
Riots have erupted in countries across Latin America, including Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia in recent weeks as regional unrest has spiraled into violence and demands for broad-based reforms.
Piñera sent a bill to Congress on Tuesday morning to allow the military to protect transmission lines, electric plants, airports, hospitals and other public infrastructure in order to assure “basic services”.
More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/26/chile-troops-sebastian-pinera-reports-abuses
