Various sources indicate that protest demonstrations took place in Valparaiso on Friday 21 May 1999, the date on which President Frei delivered his annual address to the nation at the National Congress, resulting in violent confrontations with anti-riot police who prevented protesters from reaching the Congress building.

Demonstrators included port workers organized under the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (Unitary or United Workers Central, CUT), students, mapuche natives and supporters of Augusto Pinochet (La Tercera 23 May 1999; El Pais 22 May 1999). Pinochet supporters inside and outside Congress protested the presence of the British and Spanish ambassadors at the arrest of Pinochet in England, while students took to the streets demanding an increase in funds for universities and in solidarity against the death of a student at a demonstration in Arica the day before (El Mundo 22 May 1999; El Pais 22 May 1999). Students of 25 universities of Chile were on an ongoing strike, while port workers had been protesting for months to demand compensation for the layoffs expected from privatizations of ports (El Mundo 22 May 1999).

Demonstrations by students, mapuches and port workers outside Congress was expected in advance (Estrategia 21 May 1999; La Tercera 21 May 1999). The Valparaiso CUT had organized a "Coordinating Table" (Mesa de Coordinación) for the demonstrations, which involved the port workers' unions, the Federation of Students of Playa Ancha University, and neighbourhood committees (juntas de vecinos) of Valparaiso (ibid.; Dirección Del Trabajo 1 June 1999). The demonstration was expected to begin at O'Higgins Square, greeting the arriving President with black banners (ibid.; La Tercera 21 May 1999). The potential for violence raised concern about using an open-top vehicle for the President in his traditional motorcade, which transports him from O'Higgins Square to the Pedro Montt Street entrance of the congressional building, to deliver his address before Congress at 4 p.m. (Estrategia 21 May 1999). The building had been cordoned off by police, who prepared a two-block security perimeter around it (El Pais 22 May 1999; La Tercera21 May 1999).

The demonstrators3/4estimated at more than 1,0003/4obstructed streets near the Congress by means of roadblocks and fires (El Pais 22 May 1999). The clashes between demonstrators and police resulted in injuries on both sides and over 150 persons arrested (ibid; Dirección Del Trabajo 1 June 1999; La Tercera 23 May 1999). The police reported that a total of 155 persons were detained during the confrontations (Dirección Del Trabajo 1 June 1999; La Tercera 23 May 1999), including 143 for the disturbances, 10 for not carrying legal identification, one for "hurting the work of the police" (maltrato a la obra de Carabineros) and one for damage to public and private property (La Tercera 23 May 1999). Of those arrested, 41 were minors who were reportedly involved in the disturbances and assaulted police, and 6 detainees who had been removed from the Congressional building; one policeman had a broken femur, while one port worker had broken ribs (ibid.). The next day, a Saturday, Valparaiso was reportedly calm and municipal workers proceeded to clean the streets and carry out minor repairs (ibid.).

One source states that students and port workers demonstrated several blocks away from Congress (a varias calles de distancia), where the police security perimeter ended (El Mundo 22 May 1999). Another states that while roadblocks and fires were set near the congressional building, police made arrests among groups that gathered at the centre of Valparaiso (El Pais 22 May 1999). Yet another source refers to persons being detained at Sotomayor Square and in the vicinity of Congress (La Tercera 23 May 1999). One report states that police used water cannons to disperse demonstrators, who "regrouped to try and reach the Congress again" (Weekly News Update 23 May 1999).

Damages to public property were estimated at more than 5 million pesos (Dirección Del Trabajo 1 June 1999; La Tercera 23 May 1999), and reportedly included the destruction of 14 traffic lights, 6 drain covers, 6 park benches, bleacher stands for the press at Italy Park, 2 pedestrian shelters, and damage to 3 public buildings (ibid.). Damage to private property included the destruction of gates and the Banco del Estado, and damages to a print shop, the Scuola Italiana and the Banco Bhif (ibid.). The municipal government of Valparaiso announced that it would pursue civil legal action (querella) against those found responsible for the damages (ibid.; Dirección Del Trabajo 1 June 1999).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Dirección del Trabajo, Santiago. Informe de Prensa: Relaciones Laborales. 1 June 1999. "Mayo de 1999." http://dt.gob.cl/rrll/infopre/infpre99_05.htm [Accessed 26 Feb. 2001]

El Mundo [Madrid]. 22 May 1999. Maria Antonia Carrasco. "Desplante de la derecha chilena a los embajadores español y británico." http://www.el-mundo.es/1999/05/22/internacional/22N0068.html [Accessed 26 Feb. 2001]

El País [Madrid]. 22 May 1999. "Los pinochetistas boicotean la asistencia de los embajadores español y británico al Congreso." http://www.ua.es/up/pinochet/noticias/5pino22a.htm [Accessed 26 Feb. 2001]

Estrategia [Santiago]. 21 May 1999. "En Medio de un Tenso Clima Frei Dará su ültima Cuenta." http://www.estrategia.cl/histo/9905/21/politica/enmedio.htm (Google) [Accessed 26 Feb. 2001]

La Tercera [Santiago]. 23 May 1999. Jorge Suez. "Querella por los destrozos en el puerto." http://www.tercera.cl/diario/1999/05/23/23.18.3a.CRO.QUERELLA.html (Google) [Accessed 26 Feb. 2001]

_____. 21 May 1999. "Clima de tensión rodea último mensaje de Frei." http://www.tercera.cl/diario/1999/05/21/21.02.3a.POL.FREI.html (Google) [Accessed 26 Feb. 2001]

Weekly News Update on the Americas [New York]. 23 May 1999. No. 486. "Chilean Police Kill Student Protester" (wnu@igc.apc.org) (Note: the title refers to the death of a demonstrator in the city of Arica on 22 May 1999)