Santiago. On the first day of the strike, which for 48 hours was called by popular organizations in the municipality of Villa Bisonó (Navarrete), commercial establishments and benches were looted by vandals.
Given the situation of riots, the authorities decided to reinforce the area with soldiers to help the police officers stationed to confront the rioters. The members of the National Army toured the municipality in a caravan of jeep-type military cars and with submachine guns and other types of long weapons to repel the possible aggression of the demonstrators.
Transport was substantially reduced and businesses closed their doors, some for fear of reprisals and others in support of the strike called by the Popular Front of Navarrete 24 de Abril, whose members demand the release of a popular leader and demands such as drinking water, sidewalks and curbs.
On the eve of the strike, the Expreso cafeteria was looted from where they even loaded up with alcohol. While from the La Primera Fey bank they stole the sum of 94 thousand pesos by breaking the metal doors. A few meters away another bench was looted. Leo Durán described as a criminal act the actions undertaken by the protesters with the looting of commercial establishments.
Sandro López, spokesman for the Navarrete 24 de Abril Popular Front, said that the people have complied with the strike, because the government has not paid attention to the demands of the community members. “We have been demanding sidewalks and curbs for some time, drinking water that we do not have, and we demand the release of the popular leader Armando García, arrested almost a month ago. He is a political prisoner of the PRM, ”López pointed out.
It warns that if the demanded problems are not resolved, they will continue on the second day of the strike. He denounced that the police and military agents have entered the homes of the Navarrete families. In some streets of the municipality rubble was placed and tires were burned.
