Chileans on Strike for Public Education

Santiago de Chile, Jun 30. -Chilean students, teachers, academics and workers walked out on a national strike Thursday to demand public, free education.

Protesters gathered on Alameda Avenue in the capital to stop for-profit education and to show disagreement with privatization policies promoted by the right-wing government.

The Chilean Students Federation, Teachers' Association, and the Central Labor Federation were set to lead a march at 11:00 local time from Plaza Italia to Plaza de los Heroes.

Similar demonstrations were planned in the cities of Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta, La Serena, Coquimbo, Valparaiso, Concepcion and Valdivia, among others.

The main objective is to set into a motion a project for education that is constitutionally guaranteed as a universal social right at all levels, based on a public, free, quality education.

Chilean left-wing forces such as the Communist Party, the Chilean Christian Left Party, "Juntos Podemos Mas" party and the Allende Socialism Party will also join the march.

Also on the list are environmental groups such as Green Action, Patagonia without Dams, and officials from the Ministry of Education. (Prensa Latina)