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| Chile Unrest Spreads, With 11 Deaths Reported in Violence | Chile Unrest Spreads, With 11 Deaths Reported in Violence |
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| SANTIAGO — The Chilean capital was virtually paralyzed on Monday as streets were blocked by protesters out for the fourth day in a row, subway stations that were ransacked remained shut, and stores, banks and schools were also shuttered. | SANTIAGO — The Chilean capital was virtually paralyzed on Monday as streets were blocked by protesters out for the fourth day in a row, subway stations that were ransacked remained shut, and stores, banks and schools were also shuttered. |
| The government sent out 10,500 soldiers and police officers to patrol the streets and calm protests that had left at least 11 people dead over the weekend. | The government sent out 10,500 soldiers and police officers to patrol the streets and calm protests that had left at least 11 people dead over the weekend. |
| The authorities tried to get the capital moving again by clearing debris and deploying hundreds of buses. But they could not stop clashes between demonstrators and police, and most workers stayed home. | The authorities tried to get the capital moving again by clearing debris and deploying hundreds of buses. But they could not stop clashes between demonstrators and police, and most workers stayed home. |
| The protests, which started over a small increase in transportation costs, have gained momentum and grown into an expression of deep anger that despite economic growth, wages have remained stagnant and people's lives have not improved. | The protests, which started over a small increase in transportation costs, have gained momentum and grown into an expression of deep anger that despite economic growth, wages have remained stagnant and people's lives have not improved. |
| Over the weekend, the situation escalated into Chile’s most serious political crisis since the country’s return to democracy in 1990 following the 17-year dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. | Over the weekend, the situation escalated into Chile’s most serious political crisis since the country’s return to democracy in 1990 following the 17-year dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet. |
| President Sebastián Piñera, one of the nation’s wealthiest businessmen, appeared rattled on Friday night as he deployed the army around the capital and imposed a state of emergency that he later extended to other Chilean cities. | President Sebastián Piñera, one of the nation’s wealthiest businessmen, appeared rattled on Friday night as he deployed the army around the capital and imposed a state of emergency that he later extended to other Chilean cities. |
| “We are at war against a powerful enemy, who is willing to use violence without any limits,” he said in a televised address from the Chilean Army’s headquarters in Santiago. | “We are at war against a powerful enemy, who is willing to use violence without any limits,” he said in a televised address from the Chilean Army’s headquarters in Santiago. |
| He blamed organized criminal groups for the violence. | He blamed organized criminal groups for the violence. |
| The president’s remarks were widely viewed as incendiary, and on Monday, Gen. Javier Iturriaga, the national defense chief, who is also in charge of security around the Santiago metropolitan area, distanced himself from them. | The president’s remarks were widely viewed as incendiary, and on Monday, Gen. Javier Iturriaga, the national defense chief, who is also in charge of security around the Santiago metropolitan area, distanced himself from them. |
| “I’m not at war with anybody,’’ General Iturriaga said. | “I’m not at war with anybody,’’ General Iturriaga said. |
| The demonstrations started over a subway fare increase two weeks ago, which Mr. Piñera canceled on Saturday night. But his move failed to quell the wave of demonstrations, and on Monday protesters returned to the streets in defiance of the military. | The demonstrations started over a subway fare increase two weeks ago, which Mr. Piñera canceled on Saturday night. But his move failed to quell the wave of demonstrations, and on Monday protesters returned to the streets in defiance of the military. |
| “Everything has to burn,” said Alexis Toro, a 24-year-old student on his way to a demonstration on Monday. “The president announced he would wage war on the people, so he is getting his war.” | “Everything has to burn,” said Alexis Toro, a 24-year-old student on his way to a demonstration on Monday. “The president announced he would wage war on the people, so he is getting his war.” |
| Army troops guarded subway stations after many were ransacked or burned. | Army troops guarded subway stations after many were ransacked or burned. |
| Chile had been a model of stability in the region for decades, with a solid economy and political parties of the center-left and the right alternating power through peaceful elections. | Chile had been a model of stability in the region for decades, with a solid economy and political parties of the center-left and the right alternating power through peaceful elections. |
| But in recent years, reduced demand for Chilean copper, rising oil prices and a stronger dollar have led to lower economic growth. Coupled with a deeply unequal distribution of wealth, this has resulted in growing disaffection. | But in recent years, reduced demand for Chilean copper, rising oil prices and a stronger dollar have led to lower economic growth. Coupled with a deeply unequal distribution of wealth, this has resulted in growing disaffection. |
| Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, a socialist and now the United Nations human rights chief, released a statement on Monday calling for a “profound examination of the wide range of socio-economic issues underlying the current crisis.’’ | Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, a socialist and now the United Nations human rights chief, released a statement on Monday calling for a “profound examination of the wide range of socio-economic issues underlying the current crisis.’’ |
| Three people were killed in fires at supermarkets that were looted on Sunday, and another five people were found dead in a warehouse that had been burned, said government officials. In addition to the three people who died on Saturday, that brought the total number of deaths over the weekend to 11. | Three people were killed in fires at supermarkets that were looted on Sunday, and another five people were found dead in a warehouse that had been burned, said government officials. In addition to the three people who died on Saturday, that brought the total number of deaths over the weekend to 11. |
| The interior minister, Andrés Chadwick, said on Sunday that nearly 1,500 people had been arrested. | The interior minister, Andrés Chadwick, said on Sunday that nearly 1,500 people had been arrested. |
| The National Institute for Human Rights said on Monday that 88 people had been shot. The institute has filed 12 legal cases accusing the police and the army accusing them of torture and excessive use of force. The police were also accused of forcing women they arrested to strip naked in police stations. | |
| After violent skirmishes on Sunday between demonstrators and the police filled Santiago’s Plaza Baquedano, a central landmark, an even more massive — but peaceful — demonstration assembled there on Monday. And thousands of demonstrators gathered again on Monday in Ñuñoa, a middle-class neighborhood, for the second day in a row. | After violent skirmishes on Sunday between demonstrators and the police filled Santiago’s Plaza Baquedano, a central landmark, an even more massive — but peaceful — demonstration assembled there on Monday. And thousands of demonstrators gathered again on Monday in Ñuñoa, a middle-class neighborhood, for the second day in a row. |
| Violent protests broke out in Santiago, as well as Valparaiso, Concepción and other cities, in some cases filling the streets with tear gas. Molotov cocktails exploded around the Court of Appeals in Concepción, south of the capital, and the slogan “We are no longer afraid” was painted in the city’s streets. | Violent protests broke out in Santiago, as well as Valparaiso, Concepción and other cities, in some cases filling the streets with tear gas. Molotov cocktails exploded around the Court of Appeals in Concepción, south of the capital, and the slogan “We are no longer afraid” was painted in the city’s streets. |
| Fearing shortages, many people waited in long lines outside stores and gasoline stations. | Fearing shortages, many people waited in long lines outside stores and gasoline stations. |
| The disturbances led at least two airlines to cancel or reschedule flights into Santiago. About 5,000 people were forced to stay overnight in the airport on Sunday because of canceled flights or suspensions of public transit into the city. | The disturbances led at least two airlines to cancel or reschedule flights into Santiago. About 5,000 people were forced to stay overnight in the airport on Sunday because of canceled flights or suspensions of public transit into the city. |
| Transportation authorities said damages to the Santiago subway system would cost up to $300 million to repair. | Transportation authorities said damages to the Santiago subway system would cost up to $300 million to repair. |
| The government imposed a curfew in Santiago for Monday night — the third night in a row. | The government imposed a curfew in Santiago for Monday night — the third night in a row. |
| Clifford Krauss reported from Houston. | Clifford Krauss reported from Houston. |