Chile: Churches are once again targets of violence

Chile has been the scene of civil unrest with 23 confirmed deaths since the beginning of October 2019, according to Fiscalia de Chile reporting on 30 October 2019. Both Catholic and Protestant churches have been set on fire and damaged in the wave of violence, as reported by Panam Post on 31 October 2019. Rossana Ramirez, persecution analyst at World Watch Research (WWR), gives some background information: "The crisis broke out when the government announced an increase in October subway ticket prices, but this soon evolved into wider demonstrations against the country's economic and social policies. The government then set up a state of emergency. Valparaiso Cathedral, a Catholic church in Santiago de Chile, six Protestant churches and one Christian television ministry were attacked in Valparaƒ­so, Araucanƒ­a, Santiago de Chile and Temuco. Also, according to a report by Aid to the Church in Need on 8 November 2019, masked vandals wrecked the interior of La Asunciƒ³n parish church in Santiago and used pews to set fire to the Pedro de Valdivia University." Rossana Ramirez continues: "The Church is seen by many as being part of the system which has generated so much inequality, discrimination and injustice in the country. The current levels of violence have led to insecurity and fear among many Christians. Church leaders are condemning the use of violence as a means of protest and are calling on all parties to set up peaceful meetings for dialogue."