IN PICTURES: Thousands of Chilean students took to the streets on Thursday in the first major student protests under recently inaugurated President Sebastian Piñera.
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The first major student protests under the new Piñera administration rocked Chilean streets, with thousands of university students condeming profiteering in the university system.
Photo:Reuters
The protests are in response to a decision by Chile's Constitutional Court to overturn a law making it illegal for for-profit companies to control universities.
Photo:Reuters
Chile's notoriously heavily armed riot police responded to students, dispersing demonstrations with tear gas.
Photo:Reuters
A group of protesters carrying a puppet depicting President Sebastian Piñera as an octopus.
Photo:Reuters
A protester spray paints a riot police vehicle.
Photo:Reuters
Demonstrators with a placard reading "Stop the profit, debts and sexism" and calling President Piñera a "thief."
Many have long claimed that some companies that operate universities have found ways to exploit loopholes in the law, allowing them to turn a profit without re-investing the money in reduced tuition or improved education.
Photo:Reuters
Piñera's first term in office, before he was succeeded by former President Michelle Bachelet, was rocked by student protests against his conservative administration and cuts to education.
Photo:Reuters
"We would prefer to be in the classroom...but unfortunately, we can't do it with dignity because there continues to be profiteering (in education) in Chile," said Sandra Beltrami, a spokeswoman for the students.
Photo:Reuters
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