Meet the Communist who has Pinera in a serious political predicament

[rabs]

Camila Vallejo, 23 years old. Militant in the Chilean Communist Party Youth the past five years. Working on her Masters in geography at the University of Chile.

She is the president of the University of Chile Student Federation, only the second female in 105 years to hold the post.

She is also the most visible figure in the three-month student uprising against the Pinera government. She speaks and hundreds of thousands of high school and university students take to the streets, along with teachers, professors and union workers. Last week she called for a "cacerolazo" and the din over Santiago and other cities was spectacular.

Camila has been receiving death threats and last Thursday an idiot posted her home address and telephone number on Twitter. Her family has asked the Pineral government for her protection but yesterday (Monday) Rodrigo Ubilla, a top Interior Minister official, said the government could not guarantee her safety. She has been lodging away from her home the past several days.

---------------------

There was another massive student march today. Carabineros estimated the crowd at 70,000 to 80,000, which means the crowd was well over 100,000. (Carabineros generals always under-estimate.)

Carabineros said 273 people had been detained, 16 civilians and 23 Carabineros injured. The student march began peacefully, but hooded thugs caused disturbances and looting at the end.

The student leaders have denounced that the thugs are infiltrators seeking to lay the blame on the students. In Valparaiso (second largest city) students recognized a Carabinero posing as a student. Police rescued and hustled him into the National Congress building. Carabineros in Santiago tonight said he was an intelligence sargeant. It was the first solid proof that the student movement has been infiltrated by police and likely by pinochetistas who support the Pinera government.

-----------------------


At 9 p.m. Chile time, the cacerolas were out in force tonight all over Santiago and other cities. (Pinera's ears must be starting to ring.)

--------------------------



In New York, a small group of Chileans support the students. There were similar groups in Buenos Aires, Lima, Barcelona and Paris.

-----------------------------

Stay tuned, this is not over by a long shot and something has to give.

[naaman fletcher]

1. death threats?

She can come and stay at my place if she feels insecure.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Isn't that shabby people are threatening Camila Vallejo? I'm glad to see she's not taking it lightly

It's never the decent human beings who do destructive things to others. Always the right-wingers. It's their nature, and their lack of honesty, and intelligence. Only stupid, vicious answers to the big questions.

Hoping for her safety, now and throughout her life.

The students aren't going quietly, are they? Good for them. They should refuse to allow the past to return.

Thank you for this deeper look. Rec.

[joshcryer]

3. Link to her blog:

http://camilapresidenta.blogspot.com/

Can't say I disagree with her much, but I think she's naive about the power of cronyism. At least Chavez embraces it.

[Peace Patriot]

4. When Pinera goes down in flames and this young goddess becomes president of Chile...

...it will be a clean sweep for the Left in South America, except for Colombia*:

Brazil - leftist government

Venezuela - leftist government

Argentina - leftist government

Bolivia - leftist government

Ecuador - leftist government

Uruguay - leftist government

Paraguay- leftist government

Peru- leftist government

Guyana- leftist government

Suriname- leftist government

Chile - ???

*Colombia - rightwing government (U.S. client state, $7 BILLION in U.S. military aid, blood-soaked, dysfunctional RW-run country).

------------------------

The stage is set for this to be "Latin America's century," at the least as to South America and possibly including Central America (which is trending Left, but with much U.S. resistance as the U.S. tries to hang onto its "colonies"). The key to the rise of Latin America as a prosperous, democratic region and world power--as the leaders of the Leftist countries listed above have realized--is economic/political integration, cooperation amongst themselves, having each other's backs (to prevent U.S. interference) and social justice. If Chile joins the others, the picture will be complete, except for...

Colombia, as designed by the Bush Junta, was to be the U.S. military stronghold and "forward operating location" for defeating this overwhelming Leftist tide, with a plan on the Pentagon's Big Dartboard for outright war (Oil War IV--initially against Venezuela and Ecuador--both border Colombia, both have lots and lots of oil), and non-stop propaganda, black ops, bullying, several RW coup attempts, and other typical U.S. behavior, on steroids. The consequence, of course, is that thousands of leftists have been murdered in Colombia, by the military and RW death squads, poverty is endemic, five MILLION peasant farmers have been displaced from their lands by state terror, and the country is still wracked by civil war--on-going for 70 years!--as well as by huge scandals over government spying, ties to the death squads, military slaughters of civilians and corruption of every kind, including a cocaine industry, on steroids, that seems to have been aided by the U.S. "war on drugs" rather than curtailed.

Whether Colombia will ever recover from this Bushification of an already dysfunctional country is a big question. The current president, Manuel Santos, immediately made peace with Venezuela and is pushing south-south trade like his Leftist counterparts. He seems to be a lot smarter than Bush pal Alvaro Uribe. I also think the change from Uribe to Santos was arranged by, or at least vetted and okayed by, Obama's CIA Director Leon Panetta, perhaps representing a better U.S. policy. But, with what happened in Wisconsin yesterday--another corporate voting machine coup--I think Obama will be out next year, the far right will be back in the White House and Oil War IV will be "back on the table." And far rightwing warmonger Uribe may be back in Colombia.

The question is: Whose side will Chile be on?

Chile has always been something of an outlier in South America--standing apart from the rest of the continent in many ways. Surprisingly, however, Chile's president, Michele Batchelet, head of a lukewarm socialist government, was the key player in defeat of the Bushwhack coup plot in Bolivia in 2008. She left office with an 80% approval rating (!) and how her successor was defeated by rightwing billionaire Pinera is still a mystery to me. (LatAm election systems tend to be honest and transparent--don't know if Chile's is.) The only explanation I've heard is that Chile's socialist party had become "too lukewarm" and needed reinvigoration by younger blood (i.e., some leftist voters stayed home). While this gorgeous communist, Camila Vallejo, may be too young to become president any time soon, she most certainly represents what those analysts were talking about: new life to Chile's Left. If the socialists regain power, with leaders like Vallejo, the U.S. will lose Chile as an ally in any aggression and South American integration/cooperation will be nearly complete, as to allied governments, and also as to this new more "level playing field" on the economic front (no U.S. corporate/bankster hegemony and bullying).

Even without Chile and Colombia, the Left is a formidable block in South America, and will probably be able to head off U.S. rightwing war, and, with their people fired up by democracy and social justice, even defeat a U.S. attack. But there are scenarios that are very worrisome, including a war of attrition, region-wide, wherein the U.S. war profiteers are intent on draining these Leftist countries with defense costs, with security problems, with blockades/sanctions, with "divide and conquer" tactics, with, of course, RW agents using all kinds of destabilization and terrorist tactics, internally in countries and between countries, and so on--an intentionally long term, multi-front conflict, which the U.S. might start, say, on Venezuela's Caribbean oil coast or the Venezuela/Colombia border, or any number of places in the Central America/Caribbean region--the U.S. "circle the wagons" region that was clearly being set up by Rumsfeld with new military assets including reconstitution of the U.S. Navy 4th Fleet (mothballed since WW II) in the Caribbean. (Say, U.S. Bush Junta II attacks Cuba or Nicaragua, draws Venezuela in, Brazil backs up Venezuela, etc.) (The Miami mafia in the Scumbag Congress is itching for this war.)

We've seen how Colombia's population has been impoverished by its 70 year civil war, with the U.S. backing one side with massive military aid, and the rich "circling the wagons" against the poor. Mountains of dead leftists. 5 million peasants terrorized and displaced. The U.S. purpose has been to disable the Left and to create a culture of murder and mayhem that makes good government impossible. Write it large, among countries--pitting one against another--so that regional cooperation becomes difficult.

The Central America/Carribbean list looks like this:


Mexico - rightwing government (U.S. funded/instigated "war on drugs" murder and mayhem in the south; left defeated by election fraud in '05)

Guatemala - leftwing government (but with many problems)

Honduras - U.S. supported rightwing coup government (new U.S. military bases going in; traditional stepping stool for U.S. aggression against neighbors)

El Salvador - leftist government (a "centrist" FMLN; aspects of U.S. client state)

Nicaragua - leftist government (Sandinistas--doing well)

Costa Rica - neo-liberal "centrist" (snake-in-the-grass as to U.S. interests in LatAm; betrayal re Honduras)

Panama - rightwing government (very unpopular government; U.S. client state)

(Belize - belongs to the Queen - Brit Commonwealth - Blair-type leadership, it appears)

Cuba - new capitalists? (he-he; we'll see if they end up even with socialized medicine)

Haiti - ah, me! U.S. colony (decimated; egregiously rigged elections; extremely poor; U.S. contractors will get all the aid money)

Dominican Republic - U.S. client state (even sent troops to Iraq; impoverished by neo-liberalism, corruption)

Dutch Antilles - U.S.A.F. base right off Venezuela's oil coast.

The other islands - a mixed bag of British, Dutch & U.S. client states; some leftist (independent) governments.

-----

The potential for U.S. military aggression within and launched from this region is very great. The U.S. political establishment (both parties) have worked on creating this "circle the wagons" area, with the Bush Junta aggressive on U.S. military domination in particular. But there isn't much to be looted in this region and their goal is the resource-rich South America (very resource rich).

An example of "divide and conquer" tactics: Batchelet settled Chile's 100 year old dispute with Bolivia (gave Bolivia access to the sea). Pinera immediately undid that settlement--one of his first acts in office (he actually did it a few days before he was inaugurated; top priority!). We can expect this kind of U.S./rightwing tactic wherever there is any potential dispute. The U.S. first and foremost wants to break South American unity and prevent unity in Central America/the Caribbean. (They were quite alarmed by the Venezuela/Cuba-created barter trade group, ALBA. This was one of the reasons for the RW coup in Honduras, which was a project of the RW here. Honduras had joined ALBA.)

The U.S. "war on drugs" is also excellent at creating conflict and bolstering fascist forces. (The U.S. is bent on punishing Bolivia for throwing the DEA out of Bolivia and legalizing the coca leaf, and Ecuador for throwing the U.S. "war on drugs" spy base out of Ecuador--among other reasons for U.S. government hatred of these countries. The "war on drugs" is a key component of the U.S. war machine.) We may also see a lot of warmongering crapola about "Islamic terrorists" in LatAm. (The Bushwhacks alleged that there were "Islamic terrorists" in the tri-border area of Paraguay/Brazil/Argentina, in order to get more boots on the ground in Paraguay--to prevent leftist Fernando Lugo from getting elected and to monitor the left. Lugo got elected anyway and said "no thanks" to U.S. military presence. We may well see some U.S. black-black ops "terrorist" incidents in LatAm if the Bushwhacks return to power. That is a Buswhack M.O. and the M.O. of the U.S. "war on drugs": create the problem, then spend billions not solving it.)

You might counter that the Bush bankrupted U.S. would be mad to start another Oil War. Well, the RW in the U.S. is mad--insane, incoherent, traitorous. Reason ain't it. So if they are again bestowed with power over the U.S. military and foreign policy, a U.S. war in LatAm is a very real possibility. We may have riots in the streets by then, as England is having now. They'll round up the kids, give them a quick boot camp and ship them off to Latam as "cannon fodder." The RW cannot create jobs and is not interested in doing so--and the Dems are useless corporate shills. So things could get ugly here. The RW is incapable of doing anything but making war. They will conscript our kids and put everybody's grandparents on the street--starving and homeless--to extract the last penny from us for their wars.

I hope that Chile dumps Pinera and elects a leftist government again before that happens--so that South America is a solid wall against U.S. aggression,. Colombia is the most serious weakness as to South American independence and resistance to aggression. It has been prepped as the launching pad for U.S. war and I fear that it will be inflicted with Uribe again. (That seems in the works.) But they may have more to contend with than the FARC guerrillas, if the Miami mafia gets its war. Colombians are South Americans, and there are some leaders there, and not just leftists, who want independence. Indeed, this is true everywhere in LatAm. Latin Americans in general passionately desire to run their own affairs and to work cooperatively for everyone's benefit. If the RW is installed again here, I think it will result in a permanent breach between the north and south regions of this hemisphere, quite possibly as the consequence of a failed U.S. war plan that inflicts mayhem and carnage in some places.


--------------------------


*(Inherent in this program is multi-lateral south-south trade across the globe--a rejection of the "Monroe Doctrine" that Latin America belongs to the U.S. and that U.S. corporations and banksters have privileged status to exploit and loot Latin America. This is why both Brazil's and Venezuela's presidents invited the president of Iran to their countries, and have opened diplomatic and trade relations, in defiance of U.S. dictates. They oppose U.S. bullying of "global south" countries and there is no reason whatever to make Iran a pariah state. They have a fairly decent government, as Islamic governments go, and have not aggressed against anyone. They have lots of oil, though, which is why they are a U.S. target.)

[rabs]

11. The why of why Pinera won

You say:

------------------------
Surprisingly, however, Chile's president, Michele Batchelet, head of a lukewarm socialist government, was the key player in defeat of the Bushwhack coup plot in Bolivia in 2008. She left office with an 80% approval rating (!) and how her successor was defeated by rightwing billionaire Pinera is still a mystery to me. (LatAm election systems tend to be honest and transparent--don't know if Chile's is.) The only explanation I've heard is that Chile's socialist party had become "too lukewarm" and needed reinvigoration by younger blood (i.e., some leftist voters stayed home).

-----------------------

Yes, it is true that Michelle Bachelet left office with an 80+ percent approval rating. The problem was that her 80+ approval did not carry over to the dour, lackluster candidate the Concertacion nominated, former President Eduardo Frei.

Also, there were two other reasons; a certain measure of "Concertacion fatigue" had settled in after 20 years of rule. That is normal in most countries in which one party rules for so long.

The second is that the Concertacion for the first time in 20 years became divided. The Socialist Party backed one candidate, Marco Enríquez Ominami, while the Christian Democrats went with Frei.

The rightwing, on the other hand, did not commit the same mistake as it had in the past (become divided) and united behind Pinera.

Those factors converged and Pinera got in.

Last week there was a poll that showed Pinera at a historic low 26 percent approval. The same poll showed Michelle Bachelet with 79 percent approval.

[flamingdem]

5. I think she will do well with male voters nt

[Ken Burch]

8. Oh, behave!

[flamingdem]

10. Austin! I just noticed she has a nose ring! (see left side)

:wow:

That's different

[Fantastic Anarchist]

6. I wish her well!

We need more like her! Not to mention, she's very easy on the eyes. ;)

[formercia]

7. False Flag Troublemakers.

Now, where have we seen this before? Lots of places.

The Right-Wing Reactionaries use the same Play Book, no matter where they reside. It's because they're all part of the same Fascist network.

[Judi Lynn]

14. They sure do! Very same tactics, often done the very same way, as if frozen in time. n/t

[rabs]

9. Update: Marches and demonstrations will continue

Pinera government has sent out an urgent advisory to all its embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic missions to increase security because Chilean students abroad may escalate support for the student movement back in Chile. This week there were demonstrations in Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Spain, Peru, Paris and New York. (Nothing like internationalizing repression. :shrug: )

The government is in a cul-de-sac. The education minister today proposed a lame plan to save the school year for thousands of students -- by sharing schools that have not been taken over by students for weeks, holding classes in gyms, study at home, and take final exams later.

More demonstrations are scheduled for tomorrow (Thursday) with open-air classes in plazas, reading of the constitution, cultural events. More of the same, including a massive march, being discussed for next week.

At night another cacerolazo -- last night the pot- and pan-banging was measured at 105 decibels at the Plaza Italia, in the 80s and high 90s in other locations. (105 decibels is said to be about the same as a rock concert.)

Pinera's Interior Minister Hinzpeter and the commander of the Carabineros, Gen. Gordon, have been summoned to Congress next week to explain the violent repression of last Thursday. The Inter American Human Rights Commission also criticized the government for "disproportionate violence" on the part of the police.

-------------------------------


About Camila and her appearance, in an interview when she was running for student body president, she said there were comments that she would win "because of the hormonal vote" and other "machista opinions of that type. The media spoke of my eyes and that I was beautiful, but that gave me the possibility to appear on certain programs and explain my ideas and projects. Because I was pretty, I was invited."

Camila said the media often divert attention of the deeper issues with superficial questions (such as her physical appearance.)

"Objectively, I am pretty and I have no problem in saying it, but I did not decide what my appearance would be. What I did decide were what my political projects and my work with the people would be. I find no sense in asking me what I look like. That should be asked of my parents."


To Camila, it's brains first, beauty second.


When she speaks, the message gets out.


The familar clenched-fist salute.

[rabs]

12. Chile student protests point to deep discontent (BBC)

BBC has put together a story of what is happening in Chile.

------------------

Chile is usually regarded as one of the most orderly and stable countries in South America, so the images that have come out of the capital, Santiago, in recent days have been especially shocking.

Thousands of high school and university students have marched through the capital's streets, as well as those of other major cities, demanding a radical overhaul of the education system.

Invariably the demonstrations have ended in violent clashes between masked youths and police officers armed with tear gas and water cannon

The scenes have been reminiscent of the pro-democracy protests of the 1980s, when Chileans clashed with the forces of General Augusto Pinochet.

Much more, including background on education crisis

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-14487555


-----------------------------


Camila Vallejo and fellow students went to La Moneda today to deliver a box full of spent tear-gas cannisters that were fired at students.

Another goad at Pinera.

[ChangoLoa]

13. Go Students !!!

Chile is the most unfair country for superior education. In public institutions they pay as much monthly as 2 minimum salaries. An absurd exception in Latin America, inherited straight from Pinochet's policies. Now that the Concertacion is out of power, they're finally massively daring to protest. If only there was one thing to say is that they've waited way too damn long. El chantaje is over.

[rabs]

15. Good point about protests during the Concertacion period

Penguin mascot, symbol of the 2006 student protests.

There were huge protests by high school students in 2006 during the Bachelet term. It was called the "Revolución de los pingüinos or Revolución pingüina." ("Penguin Revolution") because of the uniforms high school students wear, dark blue blazers/skirts with white shirts/blouses.)

It went on for a couple of months but nothing major in the form of reforms resulted.

The same is happening today against a rightwing government but with high school and university students, teachers, professors, parents and labor sindicates all taking part. In other words, the current student movement has much broader support.

-------------------

-- In latest developments, the Concertacion and student leaders are calling for a national plebiscite on the problem of educational reforms. Pinera officials are said to be terrified of the idea, because the government would go down in a crushing defeat.

-- A woman who works for Pinera's Cultural Ministry has been sacked for what was perceived to be a death threat to Camila V. The woman posted on Twitter "se mata la perra y se acaba la leva..." That is a unique chilenism that can be paraphrased "kill the bitch and dogs that follow it are finished." (Augusto Pinochet used the phrase while La Moneda was under siege during the coup. It was taken to mean to kill Allende.)
(Today the woman said her Tweet had been "private and domestic" and not aimed at Camila V.)

Brief Youtube (53 seconds) Pinochet using the words.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n65ILZ5IIKw

-- Camila V. has called for another massive demonstration on Aug. 18, so this will go on for a while. It looks like government officials and student leaders will meet over the weekend again to try to find a solution (but I doubt anything will come of it).

-- The Catholic Church yesterday offered to mediate the conflict. The proposal was rejected outright by Camila V. She said there was no need for mediation at this moment, and especially by the Church (comments from readers told the bishops to first clean their own house of pedophiles and not to meddle in a student/government political issue).


Eventually something will have to give.

(edit, couple typos)

[Judi Lynn]

16. I saw your post somewhere concerning more demonstrations scheduled for the 23rd, 24th,

but I can't find it so I'm posting to this thread to thank you for the updates you've posted here.

Very helpful. Will be watching for the new info. as it developes.

[ChangoLoa]

17. Hadn't seen your post until now..

thanks for the info.

The penguin mascot speaks tones by itself...
And I heard about that tweet. Unbelievable, unforgivable idiocy.

All in all, I think they could have obtained more by starting to confront the center-right Concertacion. They're not a political movement and therefore, even if they are reaching a zenith now, I fear their impulse has a time limit. At the same time, the subject of the protest gives a lot more fuel to the movement than say Spain's indignados. I hope they don't isolate themselves by trying to reach the absolute grail in one shot.

As you say, with constance, "something will have to give".

[rabs]

18. What started out as a student movement more than three months ago

has now really ballooned into a nationwide civil struggle -- high school, university, teachers, professors, academics, the CUT (largest labor union), millions of mothers, fathers, grandpas and grandmas, and most recently opposition politicans are now all involved. The Pinera administration has its back to the wall at this moment.

Today the Supreme Court overturned an appeals court ruling last week that denied Camila Vallejo police protection. The Supreme Court ordered Cababineros to protect Camila, her family and their home 24 hours a day.

There are about 30 high school students who have been on a liquid diet for the past month in a high school in Buin (southern suburbs of greater Santiago) and in other schools. Doctors are keeping watch on them, some already have been hospitalized. One young female student is reported to be very weak. As they say in Chile, "quedaria la escoba" if one of them were to die.

There is a nationwide labor/student strike set for tomorrow and Thursday. It looks like the demonstrations will be huge. There are rumors that Pinera could invoke the Ley de Seguridad del Estado ante el paro. If the law is invoked, there could be serious clashes in the streets.

Too bad current wikileaks are no longer available. Would be interesting to see what the gringo embassy is reporting back to Washington about Pinera at this time.


(edit typo)

[ChangoLoa]

21. I heard it was a very violent day yesterday in Santiago

Someone told me that one student had died.

At the same time more and more Concertacion politicians are finally coming out of the closet too. This is a big test for the Chilean "left". If the center-left and the left stay in tune, Piñera will have nothing to hang to anymore except the 1/3 of radical momios :)

But as you know, old ghosts make that unity quite complicated.

I'm crossing my fingers.

[rabs]

23. Yes, one teenager was shot to death Thursday evening

There were incidents of violence after the massive march on Thursday. A youth, some said 14 years old, others 16, was hit in the chest with a "heavy caliber" bullet and died. The family has blamed Carabineros, the Carabineros deny it.

Fyi private gun ownership by civilians is highly restricted. But Carabineros and the military are armed to the teeth.

The government said 175,000 people had demonstrated, the organizers said 600,000, quite a difference to say the least.

The result is that yesterday the Pinera government agreed to sit down with the student leaders. The students have accepted, but no date was set as of yesterday. In other words, the students have forced Pinera to at least sit down and talk, which he was not doing before this week.

One of the funny remarks on Wednesday was by the governor of Bio-Bio province, he said that the student protesters were by "those who were born out of wedlock." He has since said his remark were "misinterpeted."

Pinera's Health Minister is also in hot water, for denying that more than 30 students had been on a liquid-only strike for more than a month. Doctors who were taking care of the students told the health minister that he could check out the medical records.

The hunger strike was lifted on Thursday night. Some of the students had lost up to eight kilos of weight; one young girl was in a hospital as of yesterday.

We shall have to wait to see how things go next week.

[Judi Lynn]

24. Thanks for the new information. Very bad business murdering the kid. Sad. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

19. Chile's Supreme Court orders police protection for student leader after tweeted death threats

Chile's Supreme Court orders police protection for student leader after tweeted death threats
By Associated Press

5:20 p.m. EDT, August 23, 2011
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — A student protest leader in Chile now has police protection after receiving death threats by Twitter.

Camila Vallejo is president of the University of Chile's student federation. She has repeatedly used Twitter to mobilize huge marches for education reform.

But she also has received death threats through social networks — including a message from a high-ranking culture ministry official who invoked the infamous phrase Gen. Augusto Pinochet used while toppling President Salvador Allende in 1973. Pinochet was recorded telling his troops: "If you kill the bitch, you do away with the litter."

Chile's Supreme Court ordered police to protect Vallejo and her parents. The court also sanctioned the official who sent the message.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-lt-chile-student-leader,0,7284210.story

[rabs]

20. Guardian (UK) catches up with us here on the Latam Forum, but "Comandante Camila??"

Chilean student leader Camila Vallejo sits among a peace sign created from empty teargas canisters used by police against protesters. Photograph: Roberto Candia/AP

Student uprising leader brings charisma to a Chilean winter

Camila Vallejo's call for better and cheaper education has seen student protests transform into a two-day nationwide shutdown

Not since the days of Zapatistas' Subcomandante Marcos has Latin America been so charmed by a rebel leader. This time, there is no ski mask, no pipe and no gun, just a silver nose ring.

Meet Commander Camila, a student leader in Chile who has become the face of a populist uprising that some analysts are calling the Chilean winter. Her press conferences can lead to the sacking of a minister. The street marches she leads shut down sections of the Chilean capital. She has the government on the run, and now even has police protection after receiving death threats.

Yet six months ago, no one had heard of Camila Vallejo, the 23-year-old spearheading an uprising that has shaken not only the presidency of the billionaire businessman Sebastián Piñera, but the entire Chilean political class. Opinion polls show that 26% of the public support Piñera and only 16% back his recently ousted Concertación coalition. (GUARDIAN ERROR, THE CONCERTACION WAS THE OPPOSITION TO PINERA.)

Wednesday saw the start of a two-day nationwide shutdown, as transport workers and other public-sector employees joined the burgeoning student movement in protest.

"There are huge levels of discontent," said Vallejo in a recent interview. "It is always the youth that make the first move … we don't have family commitments, this allows us to be freer. We took the first step, but we are no longer alone, the older generations are now joining this fight."

Elected as only the second female leader in the 105-year history of the University of Chile's student union, Vallejo, who is also a member of the Chilean Communist party, is the face of a movement the likes of which has not been seen since the last years of Augusto Pinochet in the 80s.

Hundreds of thousands of high-school and university students have refused to go to lessons since early June, calling for better and more affordable education and an end to a two-tier system that creates a few wealthy, elite colleges amid many underfunded public ones. Vallejo has organised several cacerolazos – protests in which participants bang pots and pans. Some demonstrations have turned violent.

"We don't want violence, our fight is not versus the police or to destroy commercial shops … our fight is to recover the right to education, on that we have been emphatic and clear," said Vallejo as she stood outside the presidential palace.

The government has rushed out a number of initiatives to try to head off protests, promising to amend Chile's constitution to include a guarantee of quality education and cutting interest rates on student loans from 6.4% to 2%. But the promise of an extra 1.9 trillion Chilean pesos (£2.5bn) in education spending has done little to quell the uprising. Few analysts believe the students will back down despite a heavy police presence at recent demonstrations.

As she spoke, Vallejo was surrounded by students laying out a huge peace sign made up of hundreds of empty teargas canisters that had been used against students.

"Here we have more than 50m pesos' worth of teargas bombs," said Vallejo. "Imagine how much was used on the regional or the national level? This is unacceptable, we want to reiterate our demand that we made to the minister of the interior that he step aside."

Tatiana Acuña, a government official in the ministry of culture, was recently fired for suggesting that the assassination of Vallejo would end the protests. On Tuesday, Chile's supreme court ordered police protection for the student leader.

Vallejo has become a cult figure – with odes on YouTube and predictions that her charisma may well catapult her into Chilean politics. "We are all in love with her," said the Bolivian vice-president, Álvaro García Linera.

At a recent gathering of Bolivian youth leaders he urged students to follow the example of the youth movements in the rest of South America. "You need to talk about what is happening in Argentina, Brazil or Chile, where there is a young and beautiful leader, who is leading the youth in a grand uprising," said García Linera.

Vallejo said on the subject of her looks: "You have to recognise that beauty can be a hook. It can be a compliment, they come to listen to me because of my appearance, but then I explain the ideas. A movement as historical as this cannot be summarised in such superficial terms.

"We do not want to improve the actual system; we want a profound change – to stop seeing education as a consumer good, to see education as a right where the state provides a guarantee.

"Why do we need education? To make profits. To make a business? Or to develop the country and have social integration and development? Those are the issues in dispute."


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/24/chile-student-leader-camila-vallejo

[ChangoLoa]

22. As usual, Angloamerican journalism is a bit clueless (euphemism) on LatAm...

They make it sound so stupidly exotic and stereotyped, it gives me nausea... even when I agree with what they're writing

[Luiz21]

29. Camila Vallejo is NOT A REBEL. Shame on Camila Vallejo!!!!!!!!!!!!

Much like the false reporting around 9/11 and sensationalist
reporting in general, it looks like The UK Guardian article is
completely false. I guess how stupid are we to think that one
person could shut down a city, makes for a nice story. And how
studpid are we to believe that an over priviledged 24
geography student, who has never worked a day in her life,
could be a "REBEL??!!" Don't get me wrong, I grew up
priviledged too, us rich kids rebel because we are bored out
of our f-ing skull. Breaking news! Camila Vallejo is not
rebel. It is just protest marketing like the Kiss-In's and Pot
banging. 

Also looks like Chilean's are pissed that Camila Vallejo has
created an image for herself in front of the cameras while the
students and labor union workers organize and do all of the
work. Not cool. 

They seem pissed that Camila Vallejo wants to take all of the
credit for the education reform movement in Chile: Camila
Vallejo made the ridiculous statement, "It is always the
youth who make the first move...now the older generations have
joined us in this fight." It is also noted that the Labor
Unions including the Teachers' Association and Federations
have many people in their 20's, just like 24 year old Camila,
who have fought for education reform for many years. 

Shame on Camila Vallejo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

""The Chilean protest movement led by The Workers
United Center of Chile (CUT) over the span of many years has
created substantial change in economic, educational and social
policy reform and may lead the way for historical
constitutional reforms. August 24-25 2011 was a historical
event as it marks the first 2 day labor union strike in
Chile's history.The fact is that the 2 day shut down of the
city Santiago in Chile was organized by The Unitary Central
for Workers (CUT). CUT is a labor union made up of over 80
unions. These unions had been working and organizing since May
2011 to prepare for the historical
strike....."""


http://www.ripoffreport.com/colleges-and-universities/camila-vallejo-dowli/camila-vallejo-dowling-camila-490c0.htm


http://www.ripoffreport.com/public-schools/camila-vallejo/camila-vallejo-camila-vallejo-7f30f.htm

[Judi Lynn]

25. ....Chile leader wants talks; 1 dead, 1,400 arrests

....Chile leader wants talks; 1 dead, 1,400 arrests
By FEDERICO QUILODRAN - Associated Press | AP – Fri, Aug 26, 2011..

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — After three months of mass protests that provoked a sharp drop in his popularity, Chilean President Sebastian Pinera agreed Friday to negotiate with students and teachers demanding more state funding for education and profound changes in government.

Pinera, who leads Chile's center-right political coalition, made the call for dialogue as people recovered from a two-day nationwide strike called by the country's largest union organization. As students, teachers and pot-banging families around the country joined in, the strike turned into a huge protest against his 18-month old government.

Most marchers were peaceful but scattered violence marred the protests, and a 16-year-old boy was shot to death early Friday, allegedly by a police bullet, as officers responded to looting and riots. Nearly 1,400 people were arrested nationwide, and more than 200 police and civilians were injured.

"After more than three months in which we've seen violence and conflict flourish, now is the time for peace, the time for unity, the time for dialogue, the time for agreements," Pinera said.

More:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-14688458

[rabs]

26. Students debating Pinera's offer

to negotiate an end to the 3-month crisis. Pinera's offer is being seen by some student leaders as a desperate move to try to end the stalemate with the students.

The student leaders are meeting in Temuco, the capital of Araucanía (the Mapuche nation) in southern Chile. Meeting began today (Saturday) and will continue Sunday.

Leaders of 29 student organizations are participating. Another five student leaders could not make it because of logistical reasons (extreme long distances).

A delegation from the Federación de Estudiantes Universitarios Argentinos (FUA) also arrived in Temuco to describe Argentina's successful state university educational system to the Chilean students.


Camila, being diplomatic, said the government's offer could be " something positive." She said nothing else, at least in public.

(edit to add, Judi, your link goes to the Bolivian Mennonites)

[Judi Lynn]

27. Oh, RATS! Here's the right link to that story:

http://news.yahoo.com/chile-leader-wants-talks-1-dead-1-400-193812035.html

Now that's very embarrassing!

So glad you told me about it. Sheesh. Thanks.

[rabs]

28. Big turnout for funeral of teen shot to death; Pinera, students to talk Tuesday

Manuel Gutierrez, 16 was shot in the chest last Thursday.


The brother of Manuel said the fatal shot came from a Carabineros vehicle.


Manuel's brother, Gerson, who is confined to a wheelchair, said Manuel was shot while pushing the wheelchair.


Caption reads: "Jaime saw it, a Paco killed him. Truth and justice for Manuel."
(Jaime = the neighborhood where the youth lived, Paco = Carabinero)

Over a thousand people attended the services and funeral of the youth. Carabineros have denied shooting him. A judge has ordered all weapons from 35 Carabineros on duty in the neighborhood that night confiscated for ballistics tests.

There are calls for Pinera's Interior Minister, Hinzpeter, to resign. (In Chile the interior minister is the top law authority.)

On Sunday, Camila and the other student and teachers' union leaders agreed to meet on Tuesday with Pinera in the La Moneda palace. Camila made it clear that it was only a face-to-face meeting to discuss possible further steps in the unresolved student and now civic movement.

This is the first time Pinera has proposed sitting down with the students/teachers. It is being seen as a retreat by Pinera from his previous hard-line stance of no negotiation.

But already the students are talking of another massive mobilization nationwide on Sept. 8.

Next update on Tuesday after Camila/Pinera meeting.

[rabs]

30. Camila was in Brasilia today where she met Dilma

Camila was part of a Brazilian student delegation that was received by Dilma.

Pinera must be having another bad night afer learning about the meeting. Another real slap in the face. Pinera was to have met with Camila and other student leaders early this week but the meeting was postponed until this coming Saturday in La Moneda.

The Brazilian students are asking the government to invest more in education, while Camila and the Chilean students are asking for a complete change in the for-profit system of education in Chile.


Camila and Brazilian student leader Daniel Iliescu at the student demonstration in Brasilia on Wednesday.

Before her planned meeting with Chilean President Sebastián Piñera next Saturday, Camila Vallejo met with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in Brasília on Wednesday to discuss the problems facing the Brazilian and Chilean higher education systems.

------------ snips ----------------

Vallejo’s presence was widely publicized by Brazilian media. Brazilian newspaper Opera Mundi described her as a “major figure of the recent demonstrations for Chilean educational reform.”

“Chile is a model for a lack of opportunity and education,” Vallejo told local media, reiterating her unwavering stance that Chilean education should be one of quality and free of charge.

Vallejo will attend a Commission on Human Rights session Thursday in the Brazilian House of Representatives, representing the struggle of Chilean students for education reform. She also has scheduled meetings with various officials of the Brazilian Congress.

http://www.santiagotimes.cl/world/latin-america/22363-chiles-camila-vallejo-visits-brazil-meets-president-rousseff

-----------------

In Santiago, a Carabinero was arrested and jailed for killing the 16-year-old during the CUT-called nationwide strike last week. Several other Carabinero officers and police have been sanctioned.

[Luca89]

31. Check the Facts about Camila Vallejo.

The consumer sublimates desire for cultural fulfillment to the rewards of buying and owning commodities, and substitutes media-manipulated undulations in the public persona for spiritual rebirth. In the myth of consumerism, there is no rebirth or renewal. And there are no iconic symbols to evoke transcendent truths. It exists as an incomplete and inadequately engineered system of values substituted for a waning cultural heritage.
Who cares as long as it looks and sounds good? In its duplicitous plot to throttle the public, corporate policy assumes only the self-interested exploitation of the consumer market and environmental resources. Self-awareness and self-worth have been distorted. We are what we wear. Who we are merges with roles and images portrayed in the media. Ever so subtly we are losing our ability to act independently of the justifications of consumerism. This constitutes a qualitative loss to the individuation process. The affront on human values by mass media advertising has left a well actualized consumer but a poorly individuated personality. Camila Vallejo has repeatedly made the false statement: “It’s always the youth who make the first move <…> now the older generations are joining us in this fight.“ That is one special brand of marketing because it is categorically false. The Guardian article, “The student who can shut down a city” about Camila Vallejo is categorically false and is only stuff of fake custom made revolutionary lingo. The Guardian has been asked to issue a retraction because it is false. Doubtful that they will issue a retraction because the fiction sounds to good and like the current Levi’s campaign - sells and exploits the notion of a “rebel.“ In the New Capitalism's seduction of the television audience, the individuating personality identifies with advertising fantasies and consumer ideals. On August 24-25 2011 is was a mass strike led by CUT LABOR UNION STRIKE: For many years Central Unitaria de Trabajadores de Chile (CUT) has been an unrelenting political force that calls for constitutional and structural reform. Tens of thousands of Chilean workers, students and teachers participated in a 48-hour strike on Aug. 24 and 25 initiated by the Unified Workers Confederation (CUT), the country's main labor federation, to call "for a different Chile." The demands included changes to the Labor Code, a reduction in taxes on fuel, and reform of the Constitution, created in 1980 during the 1973-1990 dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. The second day, Aug. 25, brought massive marches throughout the country. Organizers estimated that 250,000 to 300,000 people marched in Santiago, and an equal number took part in the mobilizations in the rest of the country. Jaime Gajardo, president of the Teachers Association of Chile, called the Santiago march "the largest of this year's mobilizations"—which are generally considered the largest since the restoration of democracy in 1990. Start by examining the mass movements and protests led by Labor Unions throughout Chile (and surely the EU and others) over many years and general everyday jobless individuals who may be young, older than young, middle aged or elderly and you will discover true revolutionaries. They may not be a student because it is far too expensive to be a student. Camila Vallejo is a woman of 24 yet has not had to even work because her family is wealthy and she went to private schools. This luxury creates a rebel? This luxury have having everything handed to you on a silver spoon creates a revolutionary? No. They may not be students, however, the Labor Unions consist of younger working professionals in ages that range from 22 to 72. Are you aware that Ms. Vallejo charges over $3,900 American dollars for a speaking engagement, yet publicly exclaims to the media and condemns privatization and capitalism? Where are those funds going too? She says education has become a commodity, well, she has become a commodity. Do the fact checking of those who came before and have over the years spoken out about education reform in Chile. Ms. Vallejo has not said anything new nor innovative that hasn't already been said over the course of many years. In fact, given that individuals like Jaime Gajardo, the President of the Teachers' Professional Association has mobilized mass protests and spoken out for education reform for many years one can easily see that Ms. Vallejo has only regurgitated and reiterated what Jaime Gajardo and other spokespersons have already said.
SANTIAGO(JUNE 2008) Gajardo emphasized that “you can dress the system up, you can regulate it, but it doesn’t change its essence, which in this case is profit, which is allowing some people to get rich off of the education system”.

[rabs]

32. Questions about the facts

But first, welcome to the Latin American Forum, Luca89.

For those who are following what is happening in Chile, the student leaders this week postponed any public mobilizations to honor the period of national mourning declared following the air accident at Juan Fernandez Island last Friday. (The island is known in English-language literature as Robinson Crusoe Island.)

-------------------
I agree that the CUT has been a pivotal force in Chile for decades, much longer than the current crop of students, including Camila, were even born. What has happened this year is that the CUT has been joined by the massive student movement to create a even more massive civic movement not seen since the Allende years and in the waning years of the dictatorship.

What hard evidence do you have that Camila comes from a wealthy family? I have read that she lives with her parents in La Florida, a poor to lower middle-class sector in southern Santiago. You will not find wealthy chilenos living there, as you will in Lo Curro, Santa Maria de Manquehue, La Dehesa, Lo Barnechea. They don't even live in Las Condes or Providencia, "que se quedaron atras."

Camila gets U$S 3,000 for a speaking engagement? That is hard to accept, because the only people who would pay that amount would be the wealthy organizations run by the traditional wealthy and the nouveau riche who acquired their millions during and after the dictatorship. Being right-wingers, doubtful they would pay one peso to hear a committed Communist like Camila.

Camila went to private schools? Maybe. But she is now at the U. de Chile, and as you know, not every student who wants to attend the U or the UC (Catholic University) can get in if the students do not pass the national "prueba de aptitud."

Sons and daughters of the traditional and nouveau riche families who do not pass the test are sent to the new, private universities that mushroomed during the dictatorship. Some of them are no more than diplomat mills. There is a saying that when someone says or does something really stupid, they are asked, "Que? Fuistes a una universidad privada?"

I agree that Camila is way too young and inexperienced at this time. But there is no denying that she has galvanized the student movement along with Gajardo. And caused giant headaches for the Pinera administration.

[Judi Lynn]

33. Very glad to read your rational comments, rabs. Very, very appreciative.

We have seen very similar content expressed in posts regarding other leftists, so similar in approach, and intention, and attitude.

I'm not bearing any sense of suspense by now about what inspired it. We've seen it again and again.

It good to learn a little about the foundation of her real life. It actually makes her seem more worthwhile, after all!

[pedro94]

34. Camila Vallejo is NOT A REBEL.

Camila VallejoCopy and paste into your web brower to view the link on Facebook or read it below

Camila Vallejo did not get the majority vote of FECH but only about 700 votes of students out of tens of thousands. Ms. Vallejo is not a rebel. The rebels are the students who starved themselves for education reform. The rebels are the ordinary people, labor unions and students protesting in
the streets. Camila Vallejo spends her time trying to get publicity and trying to get famous.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/claudio-felipe-nu%C3%B1ez/para-reflexionar-me-la-mandaron-no-es-mia/2251273517671

para reflexionar... (me la mandaron no es mia.)
Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 6:18pm
Estimada Camila:

Parto por decirte que siento pena por ver a una chica tan bonita e
inteligente adherida a ideas tan añejas como el catre de bronce y las
polainas. Si se trata de ser antisistémicos, el anarquismo es harto más
moderno y simpático que el comunismo, que ya forma parte de la arqueología
política.
Al menos el anarquismo tiene algo muy salutífero: no le pone cortapisas a la
libertad. En verdad, abusa de la libertad. aunque no la ahoga.
Ustedes ya ganaron, Camila. El gobierno tiene las puertas más que abiertas y
ahora es el momento de entrar a conversar, de cambiar la descalificación por
el diálogo, las piedras por las propuestas y las consignas por los
argumentos.
El lenguaje de barricada ya devino en ese "infantilismo revolucionario" que
tanto daño le hace al orden establecido, ese que a ratos nos molesta. pero
es el que tenemos y hemos construido entre todos.
Lo podemos cambiar, cierto, pero jamás en torno a la lógica del combo, la
piedra y el escupitajo.
Camila: un viejo adagio dice que hay que predicar con el ejemplo. Antes de
reclamar contra el sistema binominal, de exigir justicia y acusar de falta
de representatividad al gobierno, debes "partir por ordenar la casa".
No sé si estarás enterada de que en la Feuc la situación es muy injusta.
Allí el consejo opera a través de un sistema de sufragios ponderados. Según
el sistema de estos muchachos, un voto de un alumno de la facultad de
Ingeniería (con 3.362 alumnos de pregrado) representa en el consejo un 0,1
del voto final. En cambio, un alumno de las carreras de Física y Matemáticas
(con 410 alumnos de pregrado) representa un 0,7% del voto final. Por lo
tanto, el sufragio emitido por el estudiante de Física vale cinco veces más
que el del alumno de Ingeniería.
¿Es esto ejemplo de representatividad?
Tú tampoco lo haces nada de mal. No toda la opinión pública sabe que fuiste
elegida con sólo 771 votos, de un total de 8.994 sufragios.y en un universo
de 21.547 estudiantes.
Luego, debes poner cuidado a la hora de poner en duda la representatividad
de nuestras autoridades.
Por otra parte, te contaré que con un grupo de profesionales hacemos charlas
de liderazgo y motivación.
Nuestros precios son módicos y por eso tenemos trabajo.
¡Hasta nos hemos dado el lujo de no cobrar cuando hemos estado en escuelas
públicas pobres y en la más absoluta orfandad!
Nos moldeamos a la realidad chilena y cobramos lo justo.
Ahora he sabido que tú también das charlas de liderazgo.
¡Bienvenida la competencia!
Pero cobrar $1.800.000 (un millón 800 mil pesos) por charla, ¿no te parece
un precio prohibitivo para muchos que desean conocerte y escucharte?
¿No estarás abusando de tu minuto de fama?
¿Por qué abominas tanto de las leyes del mercado pero las aplicas a tu favor
cuando te conviene para el lucro personal?
¿No es destruir el ominoso lucro lo que te motiva a dar la cara?
¿En qué quedamos?
Entiendo la impulsividad de la juventud, pero hay que ponerle atajo. Es
cierto que el que no se equivoca nunca, es porque nunca hace nada. El
problema es que ustedes partieron al revés. Por estar mucho tiempo sin hacer
nada, viven equivocándose.


The truth is that Camila Vallejo did not get voted in to be FECH president by the majority of University students, only about 700 students for her and that is it. The majority of Chilean students do the hands on work organizing and protesting in the street while Ms Vallejo poses for the camera. Camila Vallejo may appear to care but one can simply research Jaime Garjardo or any other Labor Union member, or Education Minister and you will find that Camila has only said things about education reform that he has already said many times over many years. There is nothing new nor innovative nor "rebellious" from Ms. Vallejo. We do not enjoy speaking out about this because it may seem indifferent or mean, but it is Ms. Vallejo who has continued to present an untrue and unfair image of herself while the rest of us students do all of the work and organizing. I don't care about their Communist JJCC (Juventudes Comunistas de Chile) agenda except for the fact that the media has taken the false Guardian article and presented complete lies. "The student who can shut down a city" Guardian article was August 24-25 and it was CUT who issued the mass strike and it was CUT who shut down a city. Camila has not mobilized anyone or anything, except for trying to get her picture taken at the right time, you will not see Camila on the street protesting, I mean, give me a break, thousands of students cannot even shut down a city. Is Ms. Vallejo shining the light of education reform or on herself and Communist agenda? Camila hasn't even mentioned all of the REAL REBELS, like the Chilean high school students who were on a hunger strike starving themselves to death for education, like the ordinary people fighting in the streets because they do not have mommy and daddy to hand them everything, like the Labor Unions who have been for years fighting for education and constitutional reform for a better Chile. Camila Vallejo attended private school her whole life and has never even had a job. She is 24 years old, that is not young, there are many younger working professionals already in the Labor Union who are professors and teachers and have families. There is nothing wrong with being blessed, Ms. Vallejo's parents pay for her education and pay for her whole livelihood and her boyfriend, fellow Communist and former FECH president Julio Sarmiento, is also middle to upper class. Nothing wrong with this, but luxury does not really create an authentic rebel. It is great she has never had to struggle or even have a job by her adult age - but how does this make her a rebel? Mr. Sarmiento has spent alot of time behind the scenes acting as a publicist promoting Camila and contacting media outlets. Camila does indeed charge over $3,900 for a speaking engagement - let me put it this way, thousands of students have spoken out against Camila Vallejo's hypocrisy but they are threatened by JJCC Communist party. This note on Facebook is the truth. Camila Vallejo did not even get voted in to FECH by the majority vote of the student population. All you have to do is read and view the JJCC website and you will discover that they are extremely devoted to their Communist cause. Camila Vallejo and Julio Sarmiento have worked hard to promote and sell Camila's image in order to present a new "Brand" and a new way of marketing JJCC Communist party. You will read on the JJCC that they try to dispel the myths around Communism and that they "do not eat babies." What better way to dispel the myth than to create the notion of a "rebel" but it is all typical common protest propaganda to gain attention to a cause, and in this case, ultimately the cause is for JJCC. Read the JJC website. What do you know about Communism? Did you “buy” what they are “selling?” Have you bought into the image so much that it makes you forget that it is for Communist agenda. Does it present a kinder gentler brand of Communism to you? Has it destroyed your image of the fat old mean baby eating man Communist? Mission accomplished.

[okwifip]

35. first post, hi

Looks like more of the same weird sexist rubbish from the same poster. The inability to use paragraphs is a giveaway.

For a start, Vallejo did not invent the student election rules which like everything else in Chile are actually rigged to suit the right and designed to keep the likes of her out.

Secondly, she's a kickass debater and speaker who has articulated the radical demands of the students and the vast majority of the population forcefully and consistently. She is a near perfect figurehead for an astonishingly imaginative and committed student movement and offers in every respect a magnificent contrast to the ugliness, ignorance and violence of the Chilean right.

Thirdly, the latest poll shows 69% support for the students and 69% approval rating for Vallejo. There are probably plenty of valid criticisms to be made on strategic points and so on but really, the only people who hate and smear her are the fachos who want her dead and tiny moronic anti-democratic vanguardist fundie sects with no tactical nous or appreciation for the difficulty and importance of maintaining a popular front.