チリで抗議１周年のデモが暴徒化、放火で教会焼け落ちる

【サンティアゴＡＦＰ＝時事】チリの首都サンティアゴ中心部で18日、より広範な平等を求める抗議運動の開始から1年を迎えるのを記念する大規模デモがあり、参加者が暴徒化して教会2つが放火された。（写真はチリの首都サンティアゴで、機動隊と衝突するデモ参加者ら）
　地下鉄の運賃値上げをきっかけに２０１９年１０月１８日に始まったデモは、不平等や政府への抗議に発展した。１週間後には、デモ隊の要求の一つだった独裁政権下で制定された憲法に代わる新憲法制定の是非を問う国民投票が予定されている。
　イタリア広場で開かれたデモは、午前中は仮装姿の参加者もおり、おおむね祝祭のような雰囲気に包まれていた。だが、午後になると暴力沙汰や略奪行為、破壊行為が発生した。
　イタリア広場の近くにある教会の一つは、フードをかぶったデモ参加者が歓声を上げる中、放火により焼け落ちた。また、別の教会も略奪被害を受け、放火で損傷した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2020/10/20-12:36）

Two churches were torched as tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered Sunday in a central Santiago square to mark the anniversary of a protest movement that broke out last year demanding greater equality in Chile.
The demonstration comes just a week before Chileans vote in a referendum on whether to replace the dictatorship-era constitution -- one of the key demands when the protest movement began on October 18, 2019.
While the morning brought a largely festive atmosphere to the protests at Plaza Italia, there were several incidents of violence, looting and vandalism in the afternoon.
One church close to Plaza Italia was burnt to the ground as hooded protesters cheered, while a second place of worship was looted and also suffered fire damage.
Firefighters managed to get that blaze under control, though.
The small Church of the Assumption that was totally destroyed is known as the artists' parish, according to local press.
There were clashes between groups of football hooligans in one Santiago neighborhood, while protesters in Plaza Italia doused a statue with red paint.
The communist mayor of a neighborhood near the central square, Daniel Jadue, was hounded out of Plaza Italia by protesters.
Yet it was a different feeling in the morning when demonstrators, many wearing masks to protect against the coronavirus pandemic, held up banners, sang and danced. Police even gradually pulled back from the Plaza Italia.
It's great, very good and positive. They're pure good things for Chile in everything from here, demonstrator Viviana Donoso, 43, told AFP as she and a group of people danced to drums.
The people of Chile need to unite, and we have to believe that we can do things.
Some even turned up to the demonstration in fancy dress.
- Hopes of a 'fairer Chile' -
For Victor Hugo de la Fuente, a journalist and manager at the Chilean edition of Le Monde Diplomatique, happiness reigned amongst protesters due to the possibility of progressing and achieving a fairer and more democratic Chile.
Demonstrators also called for their countrymen to vote to approve the proposed constitutional change.
This is the opportunity to say enough! We're here and we're going to vote for 'Approve,' Paulina Villarroel, a 29-year-old psychologist, told AFP.
The government of President Sebastian Pinera -- one of the protesters' main targets -- called on demonstrators to be peaceful and to respect coronavirus restrictions.
The deadly outbreak has left 13,600 Chileans dead with more than 490,000 infected.
Protests broke out a year ago initially as a response to a hike in metro fares, before mushrooming into a general demonstration against inequality and the government.
On one night of unrest, a dozen metro stations were set ablaze, bus stops were smashed, supermarkets looted, buildings vandalized and protesters clashed with riot police who fired tear gas and used water cannons.