The truck drivers’ strike in Chile began on Sunday (24th) and has already led to road closures across the country, making traffic between major cities difficult and causing huge traffic jams.
Truckers are demanding more police on the streets. The claim is old, but it has been bolstered by the case of a truck driver who was shot in the head in the south of the country last week. They also complain about high fuel prices and tolls.
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The branch union has a lot of power in the country and a great ability to mobilize since the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet drastically reduced the use of the rail network.
The Interior Ministry conducted several rounds of negotiations with the strikers. However, faced with the lack of progress and after an ultimatum, President Gabriel Boric’s leftwing government decided to apply the State Security Law widely used in military dictatorship.
Boric announced that he would bring the truck drivers who are blocking roads to justice, saying it is a crime against public order because they have prevented millions of people from moving freely and getting supplies.
Truck drivers organized further protests in February.
1 of 1 image of truck drivers blocking in Chile on February 13, 2022 — Photo: Ignacio Munoz / AFP
Image of a truck driver blockade in Chile on February 13, 2022 — Photo: Ignacio Munoz / AFP
Back then, they blocked roads and even an airport to complain about the increase in crime and also to protest the entry of immigrants into the country.
On Wednesday evening (27th), the government announced that the freeways had been unblocked and seven cases had been filed against leaders of the movement under the National Security Law.