Chile Cancels Climate, Trade Summits amid Protest Chaos

By Staff, Agencies

Chilean President Sebastian Pinera canceled two major international summits and said he would focus on restoring security and moving ahead in the coming days with an attempt to satisfy popular demands for better social services and a lower cost of living.

Thirteen days into a wave of protests that has left more than a dozen people dead, hundreds injured and businesses and infrastructure damaged, the streets of Santiago were mostly calm on Wednesday night after Pinera’s announcement. A few thousand people protested outside the presidential palace.

It was unclear if the relative tranquility would continue Thursday, the first day in a long holiday weekend in Chile.

The decision to call off the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and UN global climate gatherings, planned for November and December, respectively, dealt a major blow to Chile’s image as a regional oasis of stability and economic development.

But leaders across Chile’s political spectrum, and protesters on the streets Wednesday, mostly said they accepted Pinera’s decision, although many lamented cancelling the climate summit. Chile has moved faster than many South American countries to reduce carbon emissions, and activists and politicians alike had high hopes for the summit.

“This has been a very difficult decision that causes us great pain,” Pinera said in a televised address. “A president always has to put the needs of his countrymen first.”

Pinera said he was forced to cancel both events due to the chaos unleashed by 12 days of protests. Demonstrators are demanding greater economic equality and better public services in a country long seen as an economic success story. Shops have been vandalized and buildings set on fire, shutting down numerous subway stations.

Heraldo Munoz, president of Chile’s opposition Party for Democracy, said he thought it was unfortunate the climate summit was canceled.

“On the other hand, the desire to hold the meeting wasn’t realistic,” he said. “We have to focus on domestic affairs.”

Some demonstrators said they agreed with Pinera’s decision.

Trade and climate negotiators scrambled to find new locations for their summits, aimed at resolving tariff-related conflicts between China and the US and finalizing countries’ climate rules in advance of a bigger summit next year during which governments will be asked to commit to new emissions limits.