VIÑA DEL MAR – While Ricky Martin and Stefan Kramer were preparing for their shows in the Viña del Mar Festival, a couple of blocks away protesters clashed with police. The protesters discontent stems from the city spending a lot of resources on the festival instead of helping its citizens. At least 15 police officers were wounded and 14 cars were set ablaze.
Yesterday was the first day of the Viña del Mar Festival, with Ricky Martin opening the show at the Quinta Vergara (the theater where the festival is held). Just blocks away, people protested the city spending much-needed resources on the festival instead of on its citizens.
This fight has been characterized by the saying, “Viña has a festival but not a Hospital,” referencing the bad quality of public hospitals in the city. The protests began early in the Sucre Park in order to march towards the O’Higgins Hotel, where many of those involved in the festival were staying.
Although the Carabineros (Chile’s national police force) had taken the precaution of creating a three-block perimeter around the theater, along with rings of security to make sure no protests could get close, this all failed.
A group of encapuchados (protesters or rioters with their heads covered) got through and damaged the facade of the O’Higgins Hotel with rocks, and also attempted to force their way into the hotel. As a result, many of the hotel guests were moved to a safer location.
Hotel O'higgins: Mientras el intendente Jorge Martínez dice que "esta todo normal (…) solo un pequeño grupo está causando desordenes…"
Martínez descartó suspender el festival de Viña del Mar #Vina2020 #SinJusticiaNoHayFestival #HotelO'higgins pic.twitter.com/yosWpwtV6E— PIENSAPRENSA OFICIAL +56971588649 (@PiensaPrensa) February 23, 2020
In other parts of the city, there was rampant looting and burning. At least 14 cars were burned (seven near the festival), and a car dealership was attacked and one of its vehicles was pushed from the second floor down to the street.
The protests continued until late at night, with some marching within two blocks of the festival.
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The intendente (governor) for the Valparaíso Region said, “They [the Protesters] failed, the Festival went ahead as planned.” Virginia Reginato, the Mayor of Viña del Mar, added, “You can have demonstrations but this is criminal and will be treated as such.”
Hugo Zenteno, general of the fifth zone of Carabineros, reinforced the security protocols saying that no errors were made during the day and that “these individuals know that creating violent barricades is an attempt against the city, so let’s not talk about situations of human rights because they are against us.”
This edition of the Festival has already differed wildly from the other festivals, from the canceling of the red carpet gala to the fears that artists will suffer funas during their performances.
On Monday night, Feb. 24, Chilean singer Mon Laferte is set to sing, a performance that is bound to cause a stir considering her outspoken support of the movements behind the protests.
Diego Rivera is currently a senior in University, finishing up his audiovisual degree. You can find him on Twitter as @Piover45.