Santiago de Chile, May 2 (RHC)-- On the morning of the International Workers' Day, Chileans attempted to carry out peaceful protests in various public places in their country's main cities.

Although they initially followed COVID-19 physical distancing prevention measures, the military police violently lashed out at citizens in unsuccessful attempts to dissuade them from protesting against President Sebastian Piñera.  The pretext for the police attack was that the rallies had more than 50 people.

"The arrests took place because protesters allegedly exceeded the '50-person limit' allowed for gatherings," local media Meganoticias reported.

In the capital Santiago de Chile, arrests were massive near Dignity Square and Piñera's offices.  In Valparaiso, where the Congress is located, most incidents occurred around ​​Pinto Square.

By noon Friday, social media had reported dozens of arrests of citizens and journalists, some of whom were reporting for mainstream TV channels.  There is no official data yet on the number of people detained, but Movilh Chile reported that detained journalists were taken to the 19th Police Station.

On Friday, the Workers' Unitary Central (CUT) president Barbara Figueroa denounced that the far-right Piñera administration continues to favor large employers.  "The feeling is one of deep uncertainty... When protection is most needed, the government imposes a law that shifts the full cost of the crisis to workers," she said.  "The Executive branch's main policy proposals have been aimed at perpetuating social inequalities and abuse," the CUT president stressed.

Meanwhile, Piñera preferred to praise employers for their attitude in what he called "the protection of jobs," which surprised citizens of a country where unemployment has soared in recent weeks.  "I want to give a word of appreciation to employers for a genuine effort to protect jobs, but I also want to ask them to redouble that effort," the right-wing politician said.