Chile: Government prepares to remove demonstrators from schools they are occupying
- Colegio Tomado — El Mostrador photo
[Translation of an article from El Mostrador of Santiago for June 18. See original here and related article here.]
The government is preparing to remove demonstrators from the 200 or so educational institutions currently not holding classes because of demonstrations being carried out by secondary school students.
Minister of Education Joaquín Lavín held a meeting in La Moneda [seat of the executive branch of the Chilean government] with President Sebastián Piñera in which, according to El Mercurio, a strategy for ending the occupations of high schools was discussed.
Despite the fact that the Friday meeting seemed to be an attempt to find a means of clearing the educational institutions and resuming normal classes, La Tercera quotes government sources who dismiss that intention.
In another meeting on Wednesday, there was agreement on the need for the president to harden the way he is confronting the student conflict.
The clearing of the schools was proposed by the mayor of Santiago, Pablo Zalaquett, who explained in private that it was the only way to recover the losses in school subsidies that the suspension of classes is causing for municipalities. Other city oficials agreed.
According to El Mercurio, comments in the palace were to the effect that efforts for the return to normal activities in the institutions, involving the police and city agents, will be coordinated within the Interior Ministry, with respect for the integrity of the students occupying the schools.
The same newspaper indicated that the day and time for the actions will be withheld, but it is thought they will begin this weekend.
The aim is for the institutions to be cleared and ready for the resumption of academic acivities by next Monday.
Tags: Chile, Joaquin Lavin, school occupations, Sebastian Pinera, student demonstrations