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Chile Protests Resume, Demonstrations Crimp Economic Growth

Associated Press

   SANTIAGO - Thousands of Chileans took to the streets again Monday to
   demand better social services, some clashing with police, as protesters
   demanded an end to economic inequality even as the government announced
   that weeks of demonstrations are hurting the country's economic growth.

   The latest protest came after a short break in the weekslong wave of
   demonstrations in which 20 people have died in clashes amid looting and
   arson that forced the cancellation of two upcoming major international
   summits in what is considered one of Latin America's wealthiest
   countries.

   Most Chileans starting last week were on a long holiday weekend and
   Monday's protest was relatively small compared to earlier
   demonstrations. But the thousands who turned out showed that protest
   movement did not appear to be fizzling.

   Most demonstrators supporting the leaderless national movement marched
   peacefully, but some groups threw rocks and firebombs at riot police
   officers _ who responded with volleys of tear gas and water cannon
   blasts to try to disperse the crowds. The government said that at least
   six police officers were injured, including two who were attacked and
   set on fire with Molotov cocktails.

   The demonstrations began last month after the government announced a
   hike in subway fares and transformed into a leaderless national
   movement with broader demands over education, health services and
   economic inequality. Santiago's subway system has said that it has
   suffered nearly $400 million in damages, while businesses in Chile are
   estimated to have lost more than $1.4 billion in damages to arson,
   looting and lost sales.

   Before the marchers gathered, Finance Minister Ignacio Briones warned
   that negative economic impacts from the protests in the country that is
   the planet's leading copper producer forced officials to lower their
   2019 economic growth prediction to between 2% and 2.2% from 2.6%.

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