Chilean police disperse student march with water cannons

Thousands of Chilean students have taken to the streets of the country’s capital to call for education reforms. According to student group leaders, between 5,000 and 7,000 marched across Santiago. Police estimate the number at 2,000, saying 50 were detained. They broke up the rally when several hundred protesters crossed a police barrier and attempted to march to the Ministry of Education. Police officers used tear gas and water cannons, with the streams of water knocking over some of the students. The rally was considered unauthorized by the authorities as, according to the police, the organizers had not applied for permission 48 hours before the event. Among the protesters’ demands was free quality education, and protesting the expulsion of about a hundred students who joined last year’s protests over the crisis of education reform in the country. The year 2011 saw seven months of massive rallies in Chile in which students took part along with families and teachers.