By Kat Vella
This month has seen Chile descend into chaos after students began non-violent demonstrations against proposed rises in public transport costs in early October. But what began as a peaceful demonstration of civil disobedience has now become a nation wide protest calling for the Pinera government to resign if deteriorating social concerns are not addressed.
Australia has a well-established Chilean expat community who came here following the military coup in the 1970’s. The violent coup which saw the death and disappearance of thousands of Chilean citizens overthrew the democratically elected government and established a dictatorship for nearly thirty years.
I spoke to two Chilean students who organised, together with other members of the Chilean community in Sydney, a peaceful demonstration of support and solidarity for the Chilean people back home.
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