On November 27, 2019, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera sent a bill to the Chilean legislature that would allow the military to be deployed on the streets to guard infrastructure as protests continue. Demonstrations have surged in Chile, as they have in various other Latin American countries, over social and economic inequality, and a lack of government-provided social services. The President’s decision comes in the midst of various human rights groups accusing the security forces, deployed by the government, of grave human rights violations against demonstrators.
The protests have left at least 26 dead and thousands injured, and have disabled one of Latin America’s most prosperous economies’ business development and infrastructure. Despite the president’s promises to implement various reforms, protests continue over deeply rooted distrust in politicians and fury over how the police are handling demonstrators. President Pinera claims that deploying the police force will protect the security of citizens, although taking such a step presents serious future political risks.
