President of Chile | Current Head of State 15.12.2013 - 22:20 | Category: All , South America Leaders Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile (elected on Dec 15, 2013) On 15 December 2013, Bachelet won a runoff election, regaining the presidency. She is the first person to be elected to a second term as President since Arturo Alessandri’s third term ended in 1938. Bachelet previously won the 2006 presidential election in a runoff, defeating center-right candidate and former senator Sebastián Piñera with 53.5% of the vote. Bachelet, a physician with studies in military strategy, served as Health Minister and Defense Minister under her predecessor, President Ricardo Lagos. She is a separated mother of three and describes herself as an agnostic. Aside from her native Spanish, she also speaks, with varying levels of fluency, English, German, Portuguese and French. Source: Sebastián Piñera, Former President of Chile Sebastián Piñera, President of Chile Born December 1, 1949.

He was the winner of the second round of the presidential election that took place on Sunday, January 17, 2010, and took office on Thursday March 11, 2010. He is a well known economist, investor, businessperson, politician, former Senator, and leader of the presidential and parliamentary electoral coalition Coalition for Change. Piñera was born in Santiago to Magdalena Echenique Rozas and José Piñera Carvallo who worked for CORFO and was Chile’s ambassador to Belgium and to the United Nations. His maternal lineage is of Basque descent and his paternal lineage is of Asturian descent. He is the third child, with three brothers and two sisters: Guadalupe, José (a former Minister of Labour under Augusto Pinochet), Pablo, Miguel (a well-known Chilean performer), and Magdalena. He is married to Cecilia Morel Montes and has four children: Magdalena, Cecilia, Sebastián and Cristóbal. EDUCATION One year after his birth, the Piñera Echenique family moved abroad to Belgium and later to New York City, where his father was the Chilean ambassador to the United Nations.

Piñera returned to Chile in 1955 and was enrolled in the Colegio del Verbo Divino (“Divine Word High School”), from which he graduated in 1967. Piñera then matriculated at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile for his undergraduate degree in economics, from which he was graduated in 1971 with one of the highest grade point averages in the history of the university. Upon graduation, he was awarded the Raúl Iver Oxley Prize, given to the overall best student of each class. Piñera continued on to Harvard University on a partial Fulbright Program for his postgraduate studies in economics. During his time at Harvard, Piñera and a classmate co-authored an article entitled, “The Old South’s Stake in the Inter-Regional Movement of Slaves” for the Journal of Economic History. He also worked as a teaching fellow during 1975 and 1976. After three years at Harvard, Piñera was graduated with both a master’s and a doctorate in economics. His thesis was entitled, “The Economics of Education in Developing Countries.” Piñera returned to his country in 1976.

FOUNDATIONS In 1989, accompanied by Cecilia Morel, Danica Radic, and Paula Délano, Piñera created the Enterprising Women Foundation (Fundacion Mujer Emprende), originally called The House of Youth (La Casa de la Juventud). The foundation aims to assist in the development of young women of lower-income. In 1993 Piñera created the foundation Fundancion Futuro, of which he is president and whose directors are Cristián Boza D., María Teresa Chadwick P., Hugo Montes B., Cecilia Morel M., Renato Poblete S.J. and Fabio Valdés C. The head director of the foundation is Magdalena Piñera. The foundation’s mission is to help in Chile’s development of justice, freedom and democracy. The foundation was renamed to Fundacion Cultura y Sociedad following Piñera’s presidential election win. Under the Fundacion Cultura y Sociedad (formerly Fundacion Futuro) the Grupo Tantauco is created with the mission of environmentalism, and is administered by Juan Carlos Urquidi.

It was created to support the proposals brought forth by Piñera, which he plans to make effective during his presidency. An additional project titled Grupo Tantauco: Derechos Humanos was proposed with the hope of beginning a reconciliation between the Chilean people who suffered human rights violations in Chile’s past history. BUSINESSES Piñera owns 100% of Chilevision, a terrestrial television channel broadcasting nationwide; 27% of LAN Airlines (LAN), 13% of Colo-Colo, a football (soccer) club; and holds significant stock positions in companies such as Quiñenco, Enersis, and Soquimich. Piñera has built an estimated fortune of 1 billion USD as of March 2009, according to Forbes magazine. His wealth is attributed in great part to his involvement in the introduction of credit cards to Chile in the late 1970s and his subsequent investments, mainly in LAN Airlines stock. Piñera acquired shares of the formerly state-owned company from Scandinavian Airlines in 1994, as part of a joint venture with the Cueto family. In 1982, an arrest warrant was issued against Piñera.

He was accused of violating the Banking Law during his time as general manager of the Bank of Talca. Piñera spent 24 days in hiding, while his lawyers appealed the order. A writ of habeas corpus was first rejected by the Appeals Court, but then approved by the Supreme Court, acquitting Piñera. In July 2007, Piñera was fined approximately 680,000 USD by Chile’s securities regulator (SVS) for not withdrawing a purchase order after he received privileged information (an infraction similar to insider trading) of LAN Airlines stock in mid-2006. Piñera denied any wrongdoing and asserted that the whole process was part of a political attack to damage his image. He did not appeal, stating that the court process could take years and interfere with his intention to run again for president in late 2009. Later that month, he resigned from the boards of LAN and Quintec POLITICAL CAREER Piñera declared he voted No in the 1988 plebiscite on Augusto Pinochet.

However, in 1989 he headed the presidential campaign of Hernán Büchi, a former finance minister of the Pinochet government. During the same election process, Piñera was elected as Senator for East Santiago (1990-1998) and soon after, joined the center-right National Renewal Party. During his term as Senator he was a member of the Senate Finance Committee. In 1992 Piñera’s attempt to become his party’s candidate for the following year’s Presidential election would end dramatically after he was involved in a scandal known as Piñeragate, wherein a wiretapped conversation between himself and a friend was revealed during a political television show he attended. In the conversation – made public by the television station’s owner, Ricardo Claro – he conspired to have his rival for the party’s nomination, Evelyn Matthei, cornered during the show by a journalist close to Piñera. The tape was then revealed to have been illegally recorded by a member of the military and given to Matthei, who then gave it to Claro. Matthei stepped down from the presidential race as well.

Piñera was president of his party from 2001 to 2004. He tried to run for Senator in 2001, but resigned his campaign after the presidential candidate of his alliance -and member of the allied party, the Independent Democrat Union (UDI)-, Joaquín Lavín made it clear he would not support candidates from Piñera’s party, insisting on supporting retired Admiral Jorge Arancibia instead. On May 14, 2005, in a surprise move Piñera announced his candidacy for the 2005 presidential election (RN was supposed to support UDI’s Lavín.) He has described his political philosophy as Christian humanism. In the first round of the election, on December 11, he obtained 25.4% of the vote, which placed him in second place. Since no candidate achieved an absolute majority, a runoff election was held on January 15, 2006, between himself and Michelle Bachelet of the governing coalition. Bachelet won the presidency with over 53% of the vote.

More information: Michelle Bachelet Jeria, Former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet Jeria, Former President of Chile The President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet Jeria, was born on September 29, 1951. She is a trained pediatrician and public health specialist who also holds degrees in military science. A member of the Socialist Party and separated mother of three, Dr. Bachelet was the first woman in Chilean and Latin American history to hold the Health and Defense portfolios. On January 15, 2006 she became Chile’s first-ever woman president. Michelle Bachelet graduated from Santiago’s Javiera Carrera Secondary School in 1969. A year later she enrolled at the University of Chile medical school and joined the Socialist Party. Her father, Air Force General Alberto Bachelet, was arrested in the aftermath of the coup d’etat of September 1973 and died in prison in March 1974. In January 1975 both she and her mother, Ángela Jeria, were arrested and tortured. After their release they went into exile in Australia, then in Germany.

In 1979 Michelle Bachelet returned home. In 1982 she completed her medical training at the University of Chile. From 1983 through 1986 she completed a residency in Pediatric Medicine and Public Health. From 1986 through 1990 she headed the Medical Department of PIDEE, an NGO assisting the children of victims of the military regime. In 1990 Michelle Bachelet joined the West Santiago Health Service and the National AIDS Commission, and was consultant on public health issues to several international organizations. In March 1994 she became Senior Assistant to the Deputy Health Minister and a year later was named to the Socialist Party Central Committee. In 1996 she enrolled at Chile’s National Academy for Strategic and Policy Studies. In 1997 she completed the Continental Defense Course at the Washington, D.C.-based Inter-American Defense College. From 1998 through 2000 she was Senior Assistant to the Defense Minister and became a member of the Socialist Party Executive Committee. On March 11, 2000 President Ricardo Lagos appointed her as Health Minister.

On January 7, 2002 she became the first woman in Chilean and Latin American history to hold the Defense portfolio. On October 1, 2004, Dr. Bachelet stepped down as Defense Minister to stand as presidential candidate. Following a 438-day presidential campaign, she and her three contenders square off at the polls on December 12, 2005. She received a massive, but not yet decisive, 45.95% of the popular vote. On January 15, 2006, a final election runoff vote was held, and Michelle Bachelet won with 53.5% percent of the vote. After 476 days on the stump, she became the first woman in Chilean history to hold the highest office in the land. News from around the World News from around the World Tuesday's World Events — Posted on February 1, 2011 Jump to... Just Questions CHINA – Thousands of cameras turned on restive city Beijing | Officials plan to put the city of Urumqi under full surveillance with tens of thousands of cameras, the Xinhua News Agency reported Tuesday.

The state media said almost 17,000 cameras were installed in the western city last year, and the coverage will grow this year. Long-running tensions between the region’s minority Uighurs and majority Han Chinese migrants turned violent in July 2009. The government says 197 people were killed. CHILE – Daredevil president says he won’t change his ways Santiago | President Sebastian Pinera said Tuesday that he’s not about to give up his passion for adventure sports such as skydiving, scuba diving, mountain climbing and piloting his helicopter just because some think he should play it safe. He promised to be responsible about his activity, but maintained that “one can’t change his way of being.” The billionaire president has been criticized for making an emergency helicopter landing when it ran low on fuel on his way to a family getaway. Authorities are investigating. Pinera asked that “critics not worry so much about what the president does” in his leisure time. ZIMBABWE – Rhino horn poachers striking from planes Harare | Poachers are using aircraft to hunt and kill rhinoceros, Zimbabwe’s wildlife chief said Tuesday, amid growing demand in Asia for their horns’ supposed medicinal benefits.

Seven endangered rhinos were killed from early December to Jan. 19 in southern Zimbabwe, representing about one-third of all 22 rhinos poached throughout 2010, Parks and Wildlife Director General Vitalis Chidenga said. RUSSIA – Airport bomber targeting foreigners, Russians say Moscow | The suicide bomber who killed 35 people at Moscow’s busiest airport was deliberately targeting foreigners, investigators said Saturday, which would mark an ominous new tactic by separatist militants in southern Russia if he was recruited by an Islamist terror cell. Investigators know the identity of the bomber, a 20-year-old native of the volatile Caucausus region, where Islamist insurgents have been battling for years for a breakaway state. But the country’s top investigative body stopped short of naming him, fearing that it would compromise ongoing attempts to identify and arrest the masterminds of the Domodedovo Airport attack on Jan. 24. The blast also wounded 180 people. The violence stemming from the predominantly Muslim Caucasus region began with two bloody separatist wars in Chechnya in the past 15 years. The rebels seek an independent Caucasus emirate that adheres to Shariah law.

PAKISTAN – Islamic leaders demand detention of U.S. official Lahore | Hard-line Islamic leaders Sunday rallied at least 15,000 people against an American official arrested in the shooting deaths of two Pakistanis and warned the government not to cave in to U.S. pressure to release the man. The protest in the eastern city of Lahore, where the shootings took place, came as the U.S. Embassy once again insisted that the American has diplomatic immunity and was being detained illegally by Pakistan. But Pakistan has refused to budge, saying the matter must be decided by the courts. The U.S. has said the American, who has not been named, acted in self-defense when he shot two armed men who approached his car in Lahore. (The news briefs above are from wire reports and staff reports posted at: tulsaworld.com on Jan. 26, 30 and 31, 2011.) Questions 1.

For each of the 5 countries, give the following information: a) the continent on which it is located b) the name of the capital city c) the type of government d) the chief of state (and head of government if different) e) the population [Find the answers at the CIA World FactBook website . For each country: type of government, capital and executive branch (chief of state/head of government) can be found under the “Government” heading; population is listed under the “People” heading. Go to worldatlas.com for a list of continents.] 2. For China: a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item b) Why is the Chinese government installing so many cameras in this one city? 3. For Chile: a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item b) President Pinera was responding to calls from some that he “play it safe” while in office as president of Chile. What responsibility do you think any president has with the type of activities he participates in during his leisure time? Explain your answer. 4. For Zimbabwe: a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item b) Define poacher.

c) Why are the rhino horns in demand? 5. For Russia: a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item b) The Muslim rebels in the Caucasus region of Russia want to become independent of Russia and establish a Caucasus emirate that adheres to Sharia law. What is an emirate? c) What is Sharia law? 6. For Pakistan: a) list the who, what, where and when of the news item b) Why did the American official kill the two Pakistani men? c) What do you think of the Pakistan government’s refusal to release him? Free Answers — Sign-up here to receive a weekly email with answers. Background NOTE: GO TO WORLDATLAS.COM FOR MAPS OF ALL COUNTRIES. CHINA’s Uighurs: The Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR), a territory in western China, accounts for one-sixth of China’s land and is home to about 20 million people from thirteen major ethnic groups. The largest of these groups is the Uighurs [PRON: WEE-gurs], a predominantly Muslim community with ties to Central Asia.

Some Uighurs call China’s presence in Xinjiang a form of imperialism, and they stepped up calls for independence – sometimes violently – in the 1990s through separatist groups… The Chinese government has reacted by promoting the migration of China’s ethnic majority, the Han, to Xinjiang. Beijing has also strengthened economic ties with the area and tried to cut off potential sources of separatist support from neighboring states that are linguistically and ethnically linked with the Uighurs. Xinjiang’s influx of migrants has fueled Uighur discontent as Han and Uighurs compete over limited jobs and natural resources. As Han migrants pour into Xinjiang, many Uighurs resent the strain they place on limited resources like land and water. Ethnic tension is fanned by economic disparity: the Han tend to be wealthier than the Uighurs in Xinjiang. (from cfr.org/publication/16870/uighurs_and_chinas_xinjiang_region.html) CHILE: Sebastián Piñera is the current President of Chile. He took office on March 11, 2010.

President Pinera is a well-known economist, investor, businessperson, philanthropist, politician, former Senator, and leader of the presidential and parliamentary electoral coalition Coalition for Change. Piñera ranks among Chile’s richest persons. (from wikipedia) ZIMBABWE: Rhino horns are used in the traditional medicine systems of many Asian countries, from Malaysia and South Korea to India and China, to cure a variety of ailments. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the horn, which is shaved or ground into a powder and dissolved in boiling water, is used to treat fever, rheumatism, gout, and other disorders. According to the 16th century Chinese pharmacist Li Shi Chen, the horn could also cure snakebites, hallucinations, typhoid, headaches, carbuncles, vomiting, food poisoning… (from pbs.org) The rhino horn was once believed to contain medicinal properties…however, studies by Swiss pharmaceutical firm Hoffmann-La Roche and the Zoological Society of London dispelled claims that rhino keratin bears any effect on the human body.

(from ehow.com) RUSSIA: After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Chechen-Ingush ASSR was split into two: the Republic of Ingushetia and Republic of Chechnya. The latter proclaimed the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, which sought independence. Following the First Chechen War with Russia [1994-96], Chechnya gained de facto independence as the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria. Russian federal control was restored during the Second Chechen War [1999]. Since then there has been a systematic reconstruction and rebuilding process, though sporadic fighting continues in the mountains and southern regions of the republic. Chechnya is predominantly Muslim. (from wikipedia) Chechnya’s long and violent guerrilla war has attracted a small number of Islamist militants from outside of Chechnya–some of whom are Arab fighters with possible links to al-Qaeda. (from cfr.org) Resources CHINA: Read a more detailed news article on the security camers in Urumqi at taipeitimes.com . CHILE: Read a news article on President Pinera’s unplanned helicopter landing at signonsandiego.com .

RUSSIA: Read about the terrorist attacks Chechen groups are responsible for at cfr.org . PAKISTAN: Watch a news report on the American arrested for shooting two armed robbers in self-defense: Recent Tuesday's World Events Sebastian Pinera News | Photos | Quotes | Wiki - UPI.com Sebastian Pinera News Next Wiki Miguel Juan Sebastián Piñera Echenique (Spanish pronunciation: ; born December 1, 1949) is a Chilean investor and politician. He was elected President of Chile in January 2010, taking office in March 2010. One year after his birth, Piñera's family moved abroad to Belgium and later to New York City where his father was the Chilean ambassador to the United Nations. Piñera returned to Chile in 1955 and was enrolled in the Colegio del Verbo Divino ("Divine Word College"), from which he graduated in 1967. Piñera then matriculated at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile to undertake his undergraduate degree in Business and Administration, from which he graduated in 1971.

Upon graduation, he was awarded the Raúl Iver Oxley Prize which is given to the best overall student of each class. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License . It uses material from the Wikipedia article " Sebastian Pinera ." Quotes Abbas rejects 'temporary' Palestine state United Press International Trapped miners sing national anthem United Press International ABOUT UPI United Press International is a leading provider of news, photos and information to millions of readers around the globe via UPI.com and its licensing services. With a history of reliable reporting dating back to 1907, today's UPI is a credible source for the most important stories of the day, continually updated - a one-stop site for U.S. and world news, as well as entertainment, trends, science, health and stunning photography. UPI also provides insightful reports on key topics of geopolitical importance, including energy and security. A Spanish version of the site reaches millions of readers in Latin America and beyond. UPI was founded in 1907 by E.W. Scripps as the United Press (UP). It became known as UPI after a merger with the International News Service in 1958, which was founded in 1909 by William Randolph Hearst.

Today, UPI is owned by News World Communications. It is based in Washington, D.C., and Boca Raton, Fla. EXPLORE UPI.com Chile: Mapuche Prisoners End Hunger Strike After 60 Days · Global Voices Translation posted 26 October 2012 21:05 GMT Share this: Two young men, members of the indigenous Mapuche community from Southern Chile, were sentenced on August 13, 2012, to 541 days of prison for their responsibility in an attack against police officers during a clash on November 2, 2011, in the rural sector of the Ercilla commune . Nineteen-year-old Paulino Levipán and eighteen-year-old Daniel Levinao started a hunger strike on August 27, 2012, along with Rodrigo Montoya Melinao and Eric Montoya Montoya to protest their detention. The latter were accused of attempted murder of a policeman that was guarding ranch Centenario, in the same Ercilla community, on August 2011. They were still being processed in an oral trial.

Yesterday, October 25, the four mapuche prisoners decided to abandon their protest after the Chilean Supreme Court decided to comply with some of their demands . They are already at the prison's nurse station receiving food. Mapuche stencil, photo by Flickr user Paul Lowry (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) The maximum Chilean court ruled to partially annul the trial that convicted them. In Daniel's case, a new trial was ordered because the first one lacked enough proof to reach a sentence. As for Paulino, the court changed his accusation to injuries based on “evident mistakes in the application of the law”, therefore his sentence changed from 10 years in prison to 3 years in parole. The current government's stance President Sebastián Piñera spoke about the hunger strike [es] during a visit to the Ercilla commune this October, echoing the government's long-standing policy towards the clashes with these communities: ¿Vamos a permitir que ese intento de homicidio quede impune?

La justicia llegó a un fallo definitivo y por tanto pienso que si ellos cometieron un delito, la huelga de hambre no es legítima ni eficaz” Are we going to allow this attempted murder to go unpunished? Justice decided a final ruling and therefore I think that if they committed a crime, the hunger strike is not legitimate or effective. The conflict The following video, uploaded by YouTube user PipeHenriquezO, summarizes the Mapuche conflict in Chile in 30 seconds. The conflict focuses on claiming the preservation and autonomy of the lands that they have inhabited for centuries and that are now being exploited for their natural resources: Also, on The Ambivalent Abyss Tumblr blog you can find a photo gallery of the Mapuche movement throughout history. Netizens have also commented on the various reports about the protests in favor of the Mapuche, the government's reactions, and the diverse television reports that have come out on the issue. Opinions are conflicting. Journalist and golfer Alejandro Bascur ( @AlejandroBascur ) [es] was happy after a TV program aired on national television: @AlejandroBascur : Notable informe especial TVN.

Al fin se Muestra el terror q siembran los mapuches en el sur, sin ningún respeto por DDHH #InformeEspecial @AlejandroBascur: Great special report by TVN ( National Television of Chile ). They are finally showing the terror that the Mapuche sow in the South, with no respect to human rights #InformeEspecial Referring to the statements by President Piñera, journalist and blogger [es] Francisco Méndez ( @Franmen ) [es] pointed out: @Franmen : El Presidente Piñera podría prestar el mismo respaldo que brinda a policías ,a los estudiantes y a los Mapuche cuando se los estigmatiza @Franmen : President Piñera could give stigmatized students and Mapuche the same support he offers the police Furthermore, Mapuche journalist, writer and blogger Pedro Cayuqueo ( @pcayuqueo ) [es] asserted: @pcayuqueo : Cuesta hablar del trasfondo del tema mapuche cuando lo que gatilla los debates es la cronica policial. Aun asi, algunos lo intentamos.

@pcayuqueo : It's hard to talk about the background of the Mapuche issue when what triggers debates is police chronicles. Even so, some of us try. Meanwhile, Mapuche blogger Punngey posted the following thoughts [es] on Tumblr regarding the end of the hunger strike: HOY, 60 días de ayuno…se acabó el conteo, 60 días de sacrificio por que la verdad saliera a flote, 60 días de lucha de coraje, de orgullo, de ese orgullo que acompaña a cada uno de quienes SOMOS mapuche, aunque hayan algunos por ahí que digan que ya no existimos, esperemos que esta lucha acabe pronto […] a seguir luchando por que se vayan las forestales y represas de nuestras tierras, por la sanación de nuestra mapu, a seguir recuperando lo que se nos usurpó, y por fin caminar libres por nuestra mapu, que nuestros hijos no sigan creciendo con la represión en sus sueños…y que ellos si caminen por las tierras libres de nuestros abuelos…AMULEPE TAIÑ WEICHAN!!!

WEWAIÑ. LA LUCHA CONTINÚA… TODAY, 60 days of fasting…the counting has ended, 60 days of sacrifice to bring out the truth, a 60-day battle of courage, pride, that pride that accompanies each one of us who ARE Mapuche, although some say that we don't exist anymore. We hope this struggle ends soon […] Let's continue fighting for forest companies and dams to leave our land, for the healing of our mapu (land), to continue recovering what was taken from us, and to finally walk freely through our mapu, that our children may not continue growing up with repression filling their dreams…and that they may walk through the free lands of our grandparents…AMULEPE TAIÑ WEICHAN!!! WEWAIÑ. THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES… Mapuche flag by Flickr user Diego Martin (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) 60 Percent Of Chileans Refuse To Vote, Reject Austerity Measures 60 Percent Of Chileans Refuse To Vote, Reject Austerity Measures | October 30, 2012 Be Sociable, Share!

(MintPress) – Sixty percent of Chile’s 13 million registered voters abstained from casting a ballot in municipal elections last week, a clear sign of discontent that could be a harbinger of overall voter discontent one year before the 2013 presidential elections. Chilean President Sebastian Pinera says that the mass abstentions are a “warning sign that should be heeded.” However, with less than a 30 percent approval rating, Pinera will have to take drastic steps to restore public confidence in his leadership ahead of next year’s elections. Pinera, a billionaire politician representing a center-right coalition, has drawn the scorn of university students protesting tuition increases and austerity measures that have led to the disintegration of a once strong social safety net. For Chileans, a vote next year could usher in a new era of liberal political leadership committed to restoring the public vision of universal education for all citizens. Pinera: Pinochet round II? Despite only a 40 percent voter turnout, 43 percent of those who did cast ballots chose center-left parties, a direct affront to Pinera’s ruling center-right coalition which received just 38 percent of the vote.

This poor performance corresponds closely to public opinion polling reflecting a growing disillusionment with the Pinera government. Public support for the current leadership reached a 63 percent high October 2010, just after the successful rescue of 33 trapped miners. However, public disillusionment charged by the student movement has led to sharp decreases in the president’s overall popularity. According to an April opinion poll, just 29 percent of the Chilean public now approve of the president’s performance. Pinera’s sharp decrease in popularity amongst the Chilean public stems from the robust student movement. For more than a year, hundreds of thousands of university and high school students have protested Pinera’s policies that continue those of his predecessor, Augusto Pinochet. Pinochet ruled the South American nation for 17 years under a brutal military dictatorship. During Pinochet’s rule, an estimated 3,200 political dissidents were murdered or disappeared. Many Chileans harbor deep resentment toward Pinochet while small numbers praise the deceased dictator for leading the country out of deep poverty through liberal economic reform.

The precedent for the current Pinera education policy came from decisions made by Pinochet in 1981, when the government eliminated most funding for higher education and sharply cut funds to secondary schools. As a result, many families chose to purchase costly vouchers to send their children to high school. Many college students were forced to take out costly loans to afford their education. These policies mirror those widely supported by national policy makers in the U.S. A report published last month by the Office of Budget and Policy Priorities shows 26 states will slash education budgets, spending less per student in fiscal year 2013 than they spent in 2012. Arizona, Alabama and Oklahoma are expected to see the sharpest single year declines, with cuts averaging more than 20 percent in their respective state education budgets. Additionally, the U.S. federal government has done little to mitigate the rapidly increasing cost of college tuition. The cost of tuition at public colleges and universities rose 4.8 percent this year to an average of $8,655, according to a Bloomberg News Report . Tuition at private institutions rose 4.2 percent, to an average of $29,056 according to the same study.

These increases outpaced inflation and will likely lead to an increases in the $1 trillion student debt across the U.S. Richard Seymour , a contributor at the Guardian newspaper, contends that the mass privatization of education that began during the Pinochet era is causing many students to make a difficult choice: accept a burdensome debt or forgo higher education altogether. “In 1981, the Pinochet regime dismantled free public education. Primary and secondary education is paid for by a vouchers system, which involves the government paying private sector providers to educate the young.” Seymor adds, “Higher education is dominated by private professional and technical colleges, which cost up to £530 a month to attend. The state exists primarily as a regulator rather than a provider. As a result, working-class Chileans often receive at best a poor education, and students end up burdened with debts.” The student movement remains relevant Students in Chile, like those in Quebec, have responded to these conditions with a clear message demanding free, universal education for all citizens as a human right, not a privilege reserved for the wealthy. Chileans have likely drawn inspiration from the successes of the Quebec student movement.

Sustained public protest by the Quebecois student movement successfully halted plans to increase tuition at colleges and universities across the province earlier this year. Although demonstrations and occupations across Chile have shrunk considerably in size commensurate with the police crackdowns, the movement has maintained a sizable public presence, influencing public opinion of the president and his current economic policies. The government announced a decision earlier this summer to raise $ 1 billion in taxes for public education and an additional $1 billion for new student scholarships. However, leaders of student unions believe that the offers are insufficient and do not address the underlying problems of rapidly increasing tuition fees. This point was confirmed in an April article titled, “Chile: Progress and its Discontents . ” The Economist wrote, “Fees at most universities cluster at the upper end, irrespective of quality. And on average, they have been rising by 3-4 percent a year in real terms in the past 15 years.” Although the students remain steadfast in their commitments to universal higher education, the government rejects the assertion that education should be free and available to all citizens. Andres Chadwick, a cabinet secretary in Mr.

Pinera’s administration, commented, saying, “Free education doesn’t seem fair to us, because those in higher education still tend to be the better-off.” Public disillusionment with neoliberal capitalism The plight of students and the overall public dissatisfaction with the current economic policies of the current government are inextricably linked to a growing rejection of neoliberal capitalism and mass privatization of industry. Despite having an advancement economy and a 6.6 percent unemployment rate, one of the lowest in Latin America, the privatization of education and deregulation of markets has led to a growing public disillusionment with status quo, Pinochet era reforms. Chile is now the most “unequal country” in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) , an economic bloc of 34 advanced countries that includes the U.S., the U.K., Turkey and Japan, among others. Be Sociable, Share! BBC NEWS | Americas | Chile gets first woman president Chile gets first woman president Large crowds have gathered to celebrate Michelle Bachelet's win Centre-left candidate Michelle Bachelet has become Chile's first woman president, taking 53.5% of the poll with almost all the votes counted. Her rival, conservative businessman Sebastian Pinera, has admitted defeat.

Giving a victory speech to cheering supporters, Ms Bachelet said: "Who would have said, 10, 15 years ago, that a woman would be elected president?" The election is the fourth since Chile returned to democracy in 1990 after 17 years of military rule. Outgoing President Ricardo Lagos hailed the election of Chile's first woman leader as a "historic triumph". Pay homage Mr Pinera, who had 46.5% of the vote with 97.5% counted, was also quick to congratulate Ms Bachelet. Press hails Bachelet win He said he wanted to "pay homage to all those millions and millions of women who with much strength and tenacity have finally achieved the place and the situation they deserve in our society". Ms Bachelet thanked the thousands of enthusiastic supporters who gathered outside her campaign headquarters in the capital, Santiago. She called on the whole country to work together to solve its problems and repeated her promise to bring more jobs and social justice to Chile. The BBC's Daniel Schweimler in Santiago says thousands of people have been waving flags, blowing whistles and chanting slogans in the streets, with many more honking their horns as they drive round the city.

It took less than three hours after the polls closed for it to became clear the 54-year-old would be the next president and for the celebrations to begin. Ms Bachelet has promised continuity, as head of the coalition which has led Chile for the past 16 years, but has also pledged change. She has said she is keen to bridge the gap between rich and poor and to give a greater voice to women and indigenous people. And, our correspondent says, more women are expected to be appointed to public office. Unusual choice The second round of voting was called after no candidate secured the 50% required for outright victory in the first round in December.

SOUTH AMERICAN WOMEN PRESIDENTS Michelle Bachelet - elected Chile's first woman leader, 2006 Janet Jagan - elected Guyana's leader in 1997 after the death of her husband, the previous president Lidia Gueiler Tejada - served as interim president of Bolivia following a coup, 1979-80 Isabel Martinez de Peron - sworn in as interim president of Argentina in 1974 when husband Juan Peron fell ill and died; kept power until 1976 Rosalia Arteaga - briefly acted as president of Ecuador in 1997 Ms Bachelet, who won 46% of the vote then, went into the run-off ballot leading the opinion polls. The former defence minister will become the fourth consecutive president from the centre-left coalition known as the Concertacion, which has governed Chile since the end of military rule in 1990. A doctor and a single mother, Ms Bachelet was seen as an unusual choice for the presidency in a country considered one of the most socially conservative in South America.

Mr Pinera - who polled 25% in December - was given the backing of third-placed candidate, Joaquin Lavin, who received 23% in that vote. However, the billionaire businessman and former senator appears not to have picked up all the right-wing vote previously given to Mr Lavin. Chile’s Education Revolution Intensifies - Shadowproof Chile’s Education Revolution Intensifies GREYDOG 2013-06-25 By Shirley Coenen , 99GetSmart Despite the overwhelming discontent among the general public in Chile, President Sebastian Piñera continues to defend the present education model. Piñera believes that education is a consumer good, not a right. At this time, more than three years after the initial protests were sparked, can we look to the Chilean students for a success story? The protests in this South American nation began in 2011, when Universidad de Chile students took to the streets to demand change from the tax system created in 1981 during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, when most of Chile’s educational system was privatized and government support reduced.

The students’ central demand—for free and equitable access to higher education for all Chileans—has yet to be met. In the last few months of Piñera’s presidency and with presidential elections looming on November 19, 2013, the government is under pressure to draft a new constitution. “The current constitution we have now doesn’t protect the rights of people at all—it’s completely anti-democratic,” said Hernán Moreno Acuña, a high school teacher and president of the largest teachers union in southern Santiago, the capital. In the last few years the government has made various concessions to the protesters, such as lowering the student interest rate on loans from 5 percent to 2 percent. Today students from 24 universities and 35 high schools throughout Chile continue to protest for the fundamental transformation of the educational system. The movement has also drawn attention to the country’s reliance on copper exports. But it seems unlikely that nationalizing the copper industry so that the profits can be used for education will ever happen. Although the Chilean economy is a shining success story compared to other Latin American neighbors, it is almost completely dependent on its export of one commodity. What happens when copper prices falter?

Without an education overhaul that fosters the development of Chile’s young people and provides them with the space and resources to thrive and innovate, the Chilean economy will suffer. Additionally, the protesters have brought attention to the unequal distribution of resources not only in schools but also in the healthcare system and in rural areas of Chile. They have galvanized Chilean citizens and initiated a necessary conversation with the government. According to the president of the Student Federation of the Universidad de Chile (FECH), Andres Fielbaum, the announcements made by Piñera in his speech in Santiago on May 21, 2013, were not nearly enough to improve the dire state of education. “Piñera’s words only “reaffirm that for him education is conceived as a business and not a right,” he said. “The only option left for students is to further strengthen their movement.” Fielbaum later announced the “intensification of the protests until the end.” The 26-year-old mathematics and engineering graduate student said “politicians should not forget that this is an election year and that students will remain a major player when it comes to discussing the project country.” Michelle Bachelet, the presidential candidate favored to win the election, supports educational reforms.

Fielbaum however reminded students, “it is very easy to make promises in an election year.” Bachelet served as Chile’s former socialist party president (2006-2010) and later was appointed to a United Nations post. She is running as a member of the communist party for the 2013 presidential elections, with approval ratings at an estimated 50 percent. • This article was produced with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting Victim of Pinochet era asks Chilean voters to make history | World news | The Guardian Victim of Pinochet era asks Chilean voters to make history Bachelet set to become South America's first elected woman president Share on Messenger Close "I am a woman, a socialist, separated and agnostic - all the sins together," said Chilean presidential candidate Michelle Bachelet with a laugh. Then, asked about her favourite food, she beamed with her trademark smile: "Ahhh! That is my problem, I like everything, seafood, pastas, beans ..." Whether joking about being a political outsider or being overweight, this 54-year-old mother of three has become the darling of Chilean politics.

Her perceived humour and honesty have catapulted her to the top of the ratings and she is a clear favourite to win Sunday's presidential elections. A poll released yesterday shows Ms Bachelet with a 53% share of the vote - a five-point lead over her opponent, billionaire businessman Sebastián Piñera. If elected Ms Bachelet, a paediatrician who was tortured and lost her father under the Pinochet regime, will become the first woman elected president of a South American nation. "She is going to take the reins of this country as if it were a big house. She is going to manage us well," said Juan Ángel Gaete, a real estate broker in Santiago who said only a woman was capable of solving Chile's problems. "Look at us men, we do one thing at a time, while the mom is cooking, talking on the phone, feeding the children and listening to the radio!" For a single mother, with little money and no famous last name, Ms Bachelet's rise to power has been remarkable. Chilean politics are as traditional as the rest of this conservative Catholic nation. Never before has a woman politician been considered a serious candidate.

At first sight Ms Bachelet, a fluent English speaker who has both lived and worked in the US, looks like a friendly schoolteacher. She often drives her own car, uses no bodyguards and refuses to attack her political opponents. This non-confrontational style has been criticised as superficial, yet Chileans consistently rank her as the most honest and capable politician in the nation. This week Segolene Royal, the French socialist politician, flew to Chile to support her campaign. For yesterday's campaign finale Spanish singers including Miguel Bosé were sponsoring a free concert for an estimated 100,000 Bachelet supporters in downtown Santiago. A sense of spontaneity and distance from traditional politics has provided Ms Bachelet with an extremely loyal base of supporters. "I lived the dictatorship and have very bad memories of Pinochet, I am afraid of the rightwing parties," said Ricardo Yanez, 46, a school teacher. "With Bachelet, I share her values." While leftwing governments across the continent - notably Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and incoming Bolivian President Evo Morales - are questioning the free market model, Ms Bachelet is expected to maintain Chile's wide open economy.

Ricardo Lagos, the current charismatic leader, has presided over an economic boom that has seen the economy growing at 5% and exports doubling in less than three years. It has made Chile a model of stability in the otherwise tumultuous region. In addition to the economic success, Mr Lagos has showcased Chilean leadership, particularly in his refusal to bow to pressure from George Bush to support the war in Iraq. A member of the socialist party, Ms Bachelet has focused her campaign promises on pre-school education, the rights of working mothers and enforcing Chile's lax labour laws. "Everywhere I go, a construction site, the supermarket - it is the same, workers approaching me and asking about their rights! About not being paid overtime or being fired without warning," said Ms Bachelet in an interview. "In my government, we are going to crack down on these abuses." The rise of Bachelet comes as former dictator Augusto Pinochet disappears from the political stage. Pinochet, 90, is increasingly seen by Chileans as a criminal and fraud. With numerous arrest orders and tax investigations, he is politically and socially isolated.

Ms Bachelet has refused to answer reporters asking if, as president, she would allow a state funeral for the ailing former dictator. As a life-long opponent of Pinochet, Bachelet knows first hand the torture techniques practised by DINA, the military intelligence agency that organised the murder of some 3,000 Chileans during the 1973-1990 military rule. In January 1975, kidnapped by a squad of soldiers, she was beaten and tortured for weeks. Her mother was locked underground without food or water for five days. The military government suspected that Ms Bachelet worked as a courier in clandestine communications networks in Santiago, ferrying messages among resistance groups. Her father and boyfriend were both tortured to death. Mother and daughter were exiled together first to Australia, then East Germany, where Ms Bachelet received her medical degree and organised international resistance to the Pinochet regime. Bachelet returned to Chile in the late 1970s and worked in a health clinic, where she specialised in children traumatised by the torture and terror of military rule.

When Mr Lagos took power in 2000 he named Ms Bachelet as his health minister. In 2002 Mr Lagos made Ms Bachelet minister of defence, the first time in the history of South America that a woman held the post. It was a signal to the conservative Chilean military that the Pinochet era was over. But her critics say she lacks leadership qualities. "Michelle is a valiant woman, who has had a hard life," said Mr Piñera during a debate. "She is capable, but to be president you need much more than being a professional or a business leader. You need tenacity and leadership." Ms Bachelet brushes such criticism aside. In a recent debate she said: "Together we recovered democracy in Chile. Now I invite you to be part of another historic moment by electing Chile's first woman president. Let's make history." Booming nation World Report 2014: World Report 2014: Chile | Human Rights Watch Español The administration of President Sebastián Piñera has taken several important steps to strengthen human rights.

Since September 2010, it has ended the jurisdiction of military courts over civilians, reformed some of the most objectionable parts of counterterrorism legislation, and promulgated a law to provide redress for LGBT individuals who suffer discrimination. However, current laws continue to allow military courts to exercise jurisdiction over alleged human rights abuses committed by the Carabineros (police responsible for public order and crime prevention), and vague counterterrorism legislation remains subject to arbitrary enforcement. Police sometimes use excessive force when responding to public protests. While courts continue to prosecute individuals for abuses committed during the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship (1973-1990), the Supreme Court has used its discretionary powers in many cases to reduce sentences against human rights violators, resulting in sentences that are incommensurate with the gravity of the crimes. Abortion continues to be prohibited in all circumstances, even when the mother’s life is at risk. Police Abuses Occupations and street protests by students calling for education reform frequently end in violent clashes between demonstrators and police.

Public protests are not regulated by law, but rather by a 1983 decree dating from the Pinochet dictatorship that gives wide discretion to local government officials to deny permission for protests, as well as broad powers to the police to disperse unauthorized gatherings. Carabineros regularly use anti-riot equipment such as water cannons and teargas to break up unauthorized marches. And when violence occurs at authorized marches, the police response is sometimes indiscriminate or disproportionate. The National Institute for Human Rights (INDH—Chile’s human rights ombudsman) noted that while Carabineros had made efforts in 2012 to improve police practices in response to authorized protests, they continued to use excessive force “regardless of the behavior” of demonstrators. Of particular concern in 2013 was Carabineros’ lack of caution in firing paintball rifles at protesters, which they justified as a means of identifying law-breakers. Five people were hit in the eye by paintballs fired by police during a student demonstration in April 2013, one of whom lost an eye. The executive branch proposed legislation in 2012 and 2013 to criminalize violent conduct in public protests.

Some of the measures proposed, such as those outlawing the use of hoods or garments protecting the face against tear gas, would have increased the risk of arbitrary arrest and criminal prosecution of people exercising a legitimate right to protest, but the Senate rejected the proposed legislation in October 2013. According to the INDH, courts have granted seven petitions since January 2012 asking them to protect individuals’ constitutional rights following alleged abusive actions by police in Mapuche indigenous communities. The courts found that police had been responsible for arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment, and excessive use of force. Military Jurisdiction Legislation approved by Congress in September 2010 finally ended the jurisdiction of military courts over civilians, a reform urged by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in its 2005 ruling in the Palamara Iribarne case. However, the reform left untouched the jurisdiction of military courts over abuses committed by Carabineros against civilians, and at time of writing the government had yet to present legislation to ensure that Carabineros accused of human rights violations are tried by civilian courts. Military courts, which are composed of military officers on active service, lack the independence and due process guarantees of ordinary criminal proceedings.

Investigations are secret, criminal proceedings conducted mainly in writing, and lawyers representing victims of police abuse have limited opportunities to cross-examine witnesses. However, verdicts by military courts can be appealed to the Supreme Court. In August 2012, the Corte Marcial (military appeals court) revoked the conviction of a police officer responsible for the death of a Mapuche who had been participating in a land occupation, basing its verdict solely on the testimony of the accused—who claimed to have fired in self-defense—and ignoring evidence that showed that the victim had not fired a weapon. On appeal, in August 2013 the Supreme Court rejected the officer’s self-defense argument and gave the officer a commuted sentence of three years for homicide due to unnecessary force (sentences of three years or less can be served without imprisonment). Counterterrorism Law In September 2010, following a hunger strike by indigenous Mapuche prisoners held on terrorism charges, the Piñera administration reformed the counterterrorism law. Positive reforms allowed for the defense to cross-examine anonymous witnesses and barred the law’s application to children.

However, the law’s overly broad definition of terrorism continues to allow for the prosecution on terrorism charges of those allegedly responsible for unrelated criminal acts such as arson and the destruction of private property, although judges may later reject terrorism charges as unfounded. In addition, a provision in the law allowing prosecution witnesses’ identity to be kept anonymous makes it difficult for defense attorneys to obtain information relevant to witnesses’ credibility. Although the Piñera administration has invoked the terrorism law against Mapuches engaged in land protests more selectively than its predecessors, the risk of arbitrary terrorism prosecutions remains without clear and appropriate legal criteria for its application. Prison Conditions In March 2013, the Ministry of Justice instituted a new data collection system to measure and monitor overcrowding, a chronic problem in Chile’s prisons, among other poor conditions. In July 2013, there were 47,515 prisoners in a prison system with a capacity to hold just 38,088.

Confronting Past Abuses In an interview prior to the 40th anniversary of the September 1973 military coup, President Piñera acknowledged civilian complicity in abuses under the Pinochet dictatorship, stating that “there are many who were passive accomplices [of human rights violations], who knew and did nothing, or did not want to know.” The chief justice publicly acknowledged that the Supreme Court failed during the dictatorship to act against human rights violations and to protect victims. He announced in September that the appellate judges in Santiago who are responsible for trying perpetrators of abuses committed during the dictatorship would be ordered to dedicate themselves exclusively to these cases. The chief justice stated in March 2013 that 1,104 cases of human rights violations were under adjudication by the courts. According to the human rights program of the Ministry of the Interior, a party to 837 of these cases, as of September 2013 courts had convicted 355 perpetrators, 262 of whom had received a final sentence. Sixteen of those convicted had held the rank of general in the armed forces or police and 39 had been colonels before retirement. Sixty-six were serving sentences in prison.

Nevertheless, as of July 2013, only 33 cases of torture, a systematic practice under Pinochet, were under adjudication, according to the Human Rights Observatory of Diego Portales University, which monitors the progress of trials for dictatorship-era abuses. In many cases, the Supreme Court has used its discretionary powers to issue lenient sentences against officials who committed serious human rights abuses by arguing that significant time has elapsed since the criminal act. In other cases, the court commuted the sentences of others previously convicted for such crimes. These practices raise concerns about Chile’s fulfillment of its obligation to hold accountable perpetrators of crimes against humanity by imposing appropriate punishments or sanctions. In September 2013 President Piñera ordered the closure of the Cordillera military prison, one of two built under previous administrations to house military officers convicted of human rights violations. Its 10 prisoners, who were enjoying privileges unavailable to ordinary prisoners, were transferred to Punta Peuco, the other prison for military personnel convicted for human rights abuses. Reproductive Rights Chile is one of only four countries in Latin America (the other three being El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua) with an absolute prohibition on abortion, even in the event of medical necessity or rape.

In April 2012, the Senate rejected three bills to legalize abortion in cases in which the mother’s life was at risk or the fetus was unviable. In July 2013, the widely publicized case of “Belén,” an 11-year-old who became pregnant after being raped by her stepfather, brought renewed calls for legislation to allow abortion for rape victims. Belén stated publicly that she wanted to have the baby. However, due to the absolute prohibition of abortion, authorities cannot provide accurate, complete, and unbiased information about reproductive and sexual health to women and girls pregnant from rape, including youth-sensitive and confidential counseling to children. As of November 2013, two new bills to legalize abortion—one for medical reasons, and the other for medical reasons and rape—presented in May and July respectively, were still under consideration in committee in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity In May 2013, five senators tabled Chile’s first bill to achieve legal recognition of the gender identity of transgender people. The bill would allow individuals to change their name and legal gender on birth certificates and identity cards so that official documents match their gender identity.

Discrimination based on gender identity was banned under an anti-discrimination law that entered force in 2012, providing avenues of redress for victims. At time of writing, the Senate was still discussing the bill. Key International Actors Following a visit to Chile in July 2013, the UN special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while combating terrorism stated that the counterterrorism law had been “applied disproportionately against Mapuche defendants,” and recommended that its use in connection with Mapuche land protests should cease. In September, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination expressed concern about the “lack of objective legal criteria” for the application of the counterterrorism law in Mapuche cases, which could violate the principles of legality, equality, and freedom from discrimination. In a landmark August 2013 decision, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights found Chile violated the right to a hearing within a reasonable time of torture victim Leopoldo García Lucero, who was detained five days after the September 1973 military coup. It was the first ruling of the court on the case of a survivor of human rights abuse during the Pinochet dictatorship.

While Chile played a positive role at the Human Rights Council by voting in favor of key human rights resolutions such as those on Sri Lanka, Iran, and Syria, the country could take its positive engagement further by speaking out more often on other human rights situations that warrant UN attention. Browse Countries

Question: Sixty three year old Sebastian Pinera is the current president of which South American country ?
Answer: CHILE