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A letter to President of the Republic of Chile Sebastian Piñera Stop suppressing the struggles of Chilean students and workers for ‘free public education’! 28 October, 2011 (1) With anger, we, the Zengakuren [All-Japan Federation of Students’ Self-Governing Associations], denounce the Piñera Government repressing the students and workers of Chile who are fighting for ‘free public education’. Against these students and workers who have been indomitably carrying on their struggle, the reactionary Piñera government is violently enforcing repressive measures by mobilizing the police and other repression forces and by using tear-gas and water cannons. This administration is even scheming to enact a law that imposes a penalty of imprisonment on students who take part in demonstrations and the occupation of school facilities. We demand that the Piñera government immediately stop its repressive measures against fighting students and workers. Release at once hundreds of students and workers who have been unlawfully detained! (2) We clearly express our solidarity with the students and workers of Chile who are fighting to demand ‘free public education’, in opposition to the Chilean government’s neo-liberalist education policy, which has been adopted since the Pinochetist military regime. The children of poor worker and peasant families are suffering from the high costs of school education or the repayment of school expense loans. Together with Chilean people, we denounce the Piñera government sticking to the neo-liberalist educational policy, including the notorious ‘education voucher system’. We accuse this government of planning to introduce more private capital into its higher education system. In September, Chilean students resolutely rose to action. They mounted a huge demonstration, which was attended by 180,000 people. Filled with fighting spirit, they fought against the state’s neo-liberalist educational system and for ‘free public education’. This struggle put up by students was fully supported by workers. Many trade unions went through with a nationwide strike. (3) Today, in all parts of the world — from Chile to Greece and to the United States — angry workers, students and youth are rising one after another against their governments and capitalists who are forcing unemployment and poverty on them. In solidarity with the fighting workers and people all over the world, we, the Zengakuren students, are determined to fight in Japan on the basis of proletarian internationalism. Chairman of the Zengakuren [All-Japan Federation of Students’ Self-Governing Associations] |