Foreign tourists trapped by Chile protests

[Joanne98]

Source: BBC

Hundreds of foreign tourists are trapped in southern Chile because of strikes and road blockades by people protesting against a rise in fuel prices.

The protests were triggered by a government plan to increase gas prices in southern Chile by nearly 17 per cent.

On Tuesday, two young Chilean women were killed when a truck smashed through one of the blockades.

Protesters have clashed with police who have used teargas to restore order.



Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/01/16/3113962.htm?section=justin

[rabs]

1. This has become a major political crisis for rightwing president Pinera

Four of his Cabinet members last week were fired. Energy, labor, transport and defense.

There are more than 600 Argentine, 40 Israeli and 50 other tourists of different nationalities marooned in Punta Arenas, the southernmost city in Chile.

The protests and strikes are because gasoline and natural gas price increases are especially onerous in that region, which is cold and windswept about 10 months of the year, even though it is now summer in the southern hemisphere.

The Pinera government is not backing down, and neither are the residents of Punta Arenas.

Check out the photo gallery in the Punta Arenas newspaper La Prensa Austral. Included are photos of the funeral of the two young ladies who were run over and killed.

http://www.laprensaaustral.cl/lpa/Protesta/protesta.asp

[Lucky Luciano]

2. Wow. I was in Punta Arenas two years ago.

Hard to imagine such a place suffering from unrest. It was a quiet sleepy town, but I only slept there really. Drive my car to the ferry across to Tierra Del Fuego the next morning.

[emilyrbaker51]

3. tourists trapped in chile

As of today only 2 of our group of 70 mostly US citizens have been able to leave Puerto Natales

[Peace Patriot]

4. Welcome to DU, emilybaker51! And do fill us in on your situation...

...and on the general situation, if you can.

[rabs]

5. Chilean media reporting more people are being allowed to leave

There is a report in the La Prensa Austral newspaper that the Chilean Air Force may evacuate some of the tourists stranded in Puerto Natales and that the road to Punta Arenas and another to Argentina were open, but only to foreigners. Reports say up to 2,000 tourists of many nationalities are affected in Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales.

Some foreign embassies in Santiago said to be putting pressure on the Pinera government to resolve this problem rapidly. New Energy Minister Golbourne was to travel to Punta Arenas today, but neither side seems to be backing down.

Hope you and your group makes it out okay.

Were you at the Torres del Paine?