Chronicle: "When it starts to darken the tension increases"

Already at lunchtime, Plaza Italia - which has become the heart of the protest movement - is being filled by protesters. The vast majority are young people - born after democracy was reintroduced in 1990 and raised without the fears that characterized previous generations who lived under the military dictatorship.

President Piñera made a big mistake when he was surrounded by generals declaring war on the protesters. That means that his later apologies and promises of social reform are not taken seriously by the protesters.

A recent opinion poll is a nightmare reading for the government. Over 80 percent of the population supports the protests and demands for increased equality. Only a small minority believes that the government has handled the crisis well.

By confronting the dissatisfaction with the hard gloves, Piñera has given more energy to the protests and now a wide range of demands for changes in Chilean society are heard. A website has even been launched where citizens can vote on which reforms they think are most important. At the top is a new constitution to replace the current one that was written during the military regime and that Chile's water resources - which are privatized - should go public.

Extensive looting and vandalism took place during the protests. And the government claims that an emergency permit and curfew were necessary to stop lawlessness. But the protesters say that the damage is not to do with the protests, but that these are criminals who are taking advantage of the chaos and that the government is using this as a sweeping reason to turn down the protests.

When it starts to darken, the tension on Santiago's streets increases. Stone throwing from protesters - tear gas and water cannons from police and military. The tear gas stings in the nose, broken glass covers the asphalt and fires burn. The last protesters return home when armored vehicles roll out to enforce the curfew.

On a regular evening, the streets and squares of the Chilean capital would be full of people enjoying the heat of the spring. Now the city of shillion is completely deserted.