On September 22, in the Petorca province in the Valparaiso region of Chile, more than 100 farmers and ranchers demonstrated against the water crisis that is killing their animals and crops. Their protest however, was ended by the Carabineros (national police force).
In order to draw the attention of the right-wing government of President Sebastián Piñera to the crisis, the protesters demonstrated at three different points of the Ruta 5, an important national highway. The measure disrupted the movement of vehicles on both sides for hours, especially in the sectors of Quebradilla, Pullally and Longotoma in the La Ligua city.
In the Pullally locality, in an attempt to clear the highway, the Carabineros beat demonstrators and dragged them off the road. In addition, the police arrested at least 17 protesters. The wife of the mayor of La Ligua city, who was marching alongside the citizens, is one of the detainees.
The slogans “This is not drought, this is plundering”, “Abolition of Water Act”, “Water for wealthy people or for all Chileans?”, were written on some of the banners at the demonstration. The protest was also carried out against the mining companies that are polluting the environment of the province, directly affecting agricultural activities.
Source: newsclick.in