Life

Chile's Vina del Mar music festival goes ahead despite tensions

February 22, 2020
Ricky Martin performs at the Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada, in November 2019 file photo. — AFP
Ricky Martin performs at the Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada, in November 2019 file photo. — AFP

VINA DEL MAR, Chile — Protest-hit Chile takes a tentative step back to normality on Sunday when Latin America's biggest music festival gets underway at Vina del Mar amid heightened security.

Protests that flared up in October — initially over a rise in metro fares — abated during the summer holidays before breaking out anew in recent weeks, raising authorities' concerns over mass gatherings.

Ricky Martin, Maroon 5 and Puerto Rican star Ozuna are the headline acts as the annual festival in the Pacific Coast resort city begins amid threats of protests.

Calls to disrupt the festival have circulated on social networks, with protests to center on the Quinta Vergara amphitheater where the festival has been held for more than six decades.

Organizers have installed metal detectors at entrances and brought festival opening times forward for the duration of the six-day festival.

In another sign of official nervousness, the festival's traditional Hollywood-style red carpet opening, one of Chile's most watched televised events, has been canceled.

Ricky Martin, who supported the social protests, will open the festival on Sunday with a performance from his Movimento Tour.

At the height of the protests, Martin addressed a message to Chile's President Sebastian Pinera on social media: "You have to know that the will of a people is respected, is obeyed, is fulfilled. Listen to your people."

Outspoken Chilean star Mon Laferte's performance will be closely watched. She bared her breasts in a message of support for protesters at the Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas in November.

Stand-up comedians have been warned to refrain from making jibes at the authorities during the festival, which runs through Feb. 28.

Since authorities announced a modest hike in metro fares in the capital Santiago on Oct. 18, more than 30 people have died in protests.

They quickly mushroomed into wider discontent over inequality and the rejection of conservative billionaire Pinera and his government.

A nationwide referendum on changing the dictatorship-era constitution is set for April. — AFP


February 22, 2020
45 views
HIGHLIGHTS
Life
day ago

Titanic 'door' prop that kept Rose alive sells for $718,750

Life
day ago

Half of women in music experience discrimination, report finds

Life
8 days ago

Scientists say they can cut HIV out of cells