Take-overs 2006 student protests in Chile

instituto nacional occupied en toma, may 19, 2006

following 3 weeks of protests, little progress students demands had been achieved. turning point arose when students of prestigious school instituto nacional , liceo de aplicación overran school campuses during night of may 19, 2006 demanding improvement in educational reform including: ending of system of schools being run municipalities (present since 1982), abolition of loce, clear declaration president bachelet in traditional may 21 speech national congress. in speech, president indirectly referred students demands , instead focused in condemning students recent acts of violence.

i want our citizens critical, self-conscious, , express ideas , demands. however, criticism must expressed in constructive manner, laying clear proposals upon table, , importantly, unveiled face without resorting violence. want crystal clear in this, have witnessed in past weeks unacceptable. shall not tolerate acts of vandalism or intimidation. won democracy without resorting concealing our faces , shall continue [enjoying it] without doing (this in reference practice of individuals anonomously partook in violence under cover of hoods).

the government s reply did not satisfy students leaders called continuation of demonstrations, though instituto nacional students desisted in school take-over in exchange school strike supported teachers, parents , school administrators alike. occupations of several liceos (public high schools) continued — among others liceo a-13 (formerly, confederación suiza) , liceo carmela carvajal — , 2 failed attempts occupy liceo josé victorino lastarria in providencia. although peaceful, occupations rejected government , education minister martín zilic, broke off negotiations stating not come table long mobilizations continued.

in order move forward in discussion quality, need s participation (...) s dialogue, not occupations of schools, not violence on streets, not covered faces. president said won democracy uncovered faces , going maintain talks uncovered face lesson youths in santiago have occupied schools; s not way. path through dialogue, way build better education , make big leap future

however, ministerial strategy of avoiding dialogue did not work out. since april 24, there fourteen schools either occupied or on strike including liceo nº1 de niñas — school president bachelet herself attended student.

what not understandable while trying talk, there s applying of pressure. not way create dialogue in democracy. terrific have chosen reveal faces. must able dialogue seriously, negotiate both sides. government willing discuss many topics, must done respect , without pressure. government has shown agrees seek solution on psu , school bus pass, jointly ministries of transportation, education, , finance, , know this...regarding jec, know interested in knowing evaluation of jec, if consider isn t fulfilling objective, want improve quality of education, available listen everything.

that same night, eleven schools in santiago downtown, Ñuñoa, estación central, la cisterna, maipú, providencia , recoleta occupied students. students received political support deputies governing coalition, college of teachers , other institutions, leaving minister zilic in fragile position. called new round of negotiations representatives of schools in conflict scheduled following monday may 29. throughout day, more schools occupied in arica, iquique, valparaíso, rancagua , concepción.

on may 26, situation escalated, students maipú, san miguel, las condes, puente alto , pudahuel carried out peaceful marches , private schools adhered events. one-hundred thousand students (and 100 schools) on mass demonstrations throughout country. meanwhile, aces called national strike on tuesday may 30, supported student federation of university of chile (fech), , teachers national union.

public opinion became increasingly critical of government , mishandling of crisis, forcing president bachelet express reestablish dialogue in agenda without exclusions reaffirming new stand not contradiction nor defeat: have here decision sit down talk , listen. there things agree on , there others not .

the last opportunity avoid nationwide strike meeting called minister zilic representatives of schools in conflict. however, meeting not presided minister himself rather deputy minister pilar romaguera, situation rejected students. in addition, site chosen negotiations did not have capacity approximately 1 hundred student representatives, leading secondary students refusing continue negotiations unless school representatives in 1 room. government maintained confidence in continuing negotiations, refusing consider situation failure , insisting small step had been achieved.

[in ministry,] disorganization reigned. pretty clear in hurry, , can t sit down , talk , more resolve in such circumstances.

after breakdown of meeting, aces reorganized 6 regional branches , set meeting senators of both concertación , alliance chile, sign of widespread support movement had won across political spectrum.