Thirty-three women went into a disused mine in Chile and are threatening to begin a hunger strike to demand the creation of jobs in the areas affected by earthquake and tsunami in February, Chilean media reports said.
The 33 women came down to a depth of 500 m in Chiflon del Diablo mine, located near the town of Lota, 500 kilometers south of Santiago. Former coal mine closed in 1990, was transformed into a landmark.
The protesters, who claim representing 12,000 people in central and southern country, are demanding the reactivation and creation of a budget plan to provide employment for reconstruction in 2011.
“We tried many things so the new government to considering us, but they were not listening to us, so we resorted to this measure,” said Brigida Lara, a spokesman for the group.
The police was present Tuesday at the mine’s entrance. The women were inspired by the case of the 33 miners in San Jose, who were dramatically rescued after having spent more than two months trapped in a gallery.
The 33 women demanded to discuss with the Archbishop of Concepcion, Bishop Ricardo Ezzat and with the Prefect Jacqueline Van Rysselberghe. The protesters are threatening to trigger a hunger strike Wednesday.
The earthquake and tsunami of 27 January have killed at least 521 people and another 56 people are missing, the total damage being estimated at 30 billion dollars.
