Chile protestors lap up support by jogging around palace

SANTIAGO: What started as a one-student march now includes more than 10,000 parents, children and elderly, in a goal to jog around the Chilean presidential palace for 1,800 hours in a row -- 75 days -- to urge education reform.

The march first began on June 13 when a lone drama student started running the half-mile loop around the presidential palace in Santiago. Then his girlfriend joined the protest run.

Soon, dozens of Chileans were taking turns in the exercise that is part of a nationwide effort to gain substantial education reforms.

Chile has been occupied for months by student protests where youth are demanding free education for all.

For the marathon protest run, there is always at least one person walking the half-mile stretch amid the central and congested streets of downtown Santiago with their black, tattered flag demanding "Free Education Now."

The 1,800-hour goal symbolizes the $1.8 billion each year that, according to students, would be required to fund education for the 300,000 most vulnerable students in the system.

In a separate-but-related protest Tuesday, Chilean riot police fired tear gas and used water cannons to disperse violent protesters on the fringe of an otherwise peaceful student demonstration in the capital.

Friday at the palace, the protestors are just over two weeks shy of reaching their goal, and they have culled support from more than 10,000 people. The movement's Facebook page has more than 13,500 fans.

In nearly two months of running, often during very cold mornings, there has always been someone making a lap.

"No matter what, runners appear almost magically," said one of the organizers, Alfonso Castillo.

"Until now, time has passed quickly," said the kinesiology student at the University of Chile, after they had completed 1,419 hours.

On Saturday and Sunday mornings, families take over the run, while students and nearby office workers fill the weekday shifts.

"We came to support this beautiful cause, because we believe it is right to have free education for all," said Paula, a 37-year old supermarket cashier who brought her eldest daughter and nephew with her to join the movement.

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera on Thursday rebuffed demands by students who have mounted mass protests for free university education, telling them "nothing is free in this life."

"We all want education, healthcare, and many more things for free, but I want to remind them that nothing is free in this life. Someone has to pay," said Pinera at the presidential palace, La Moneda.

As runners complete the circle, they are greeted by cheers of "Now, now... do not stop!" from other students.

People who want to join the run can register by phone or at a makeshift relief station that students have assembled in front of the government building.

Volunteers need not worry if they have no sportswear or sneakers to wear -- there are several pairs of shoes and dozens of shirts and pants available on loan for those who need them.

Each runner is also given a bottle of water or juice to rehydrate. There are bananas, cereal bars, biscuits and fruits that have been donated by an anonymous donor. A chiropractor has even set up a stretcher and provides massages to tired runners.

When 1,000 hours passed, a copycat movement in neighboring Valparaiso began, where students are making laps around Parliament. They have already logged nearly 500 hours.

A University of Santiago professor holds the record for most hours jogged at 7 hours and 10 minutes, while a female student ran more than four hours. An 80-year-old made a full lap as did two young men in wheelchairs.

Organizers expect a large crowd the last day of the race on August 27.

The recent wave of student protests is the largest since democracy was restored in Chile in 1990 after 17 years of military dictatorship.

Protests have been mounting since Pinera, the first right-wing president to govern Chile since 1990, announced wide-ranging education spending cuts earlier in the year.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011