In northern Chile, truck drivers hit the streets after their colleague died on Thursday by falling off a bridge after arguing with immigrants. The truck drivers blocked the roads with their trucks in different parts of the country, especially the port city of Iquique and Antofagasta, and set on fire the barriers they set up. Meanwhile, the truck drivers blocking of the airport road in Iquique caused disruption on the flights across the country. Also, the leaders of the unions that protesters are affiliated held a teleconference meeting with the Chilean President Sebastian Pinera and the Chile Interior Minister.
After the meeting, Chile Presidency Undersecretary General Maximo Pavez released a statement, and called for dialogue. “We call on local actors, unions, local political authorities to understand that violence is not the path to resolving our differences,” Pavez said.
While the Chile police have investigating the death of the truck driver in question, 3 people were taken into custody regarding the incident.