Government criticizes truckers on strike, calling them “unfair”

SANTIAGO.-  While warning that if the truckers block highways “public forces will intervene”, the government also took the opportunity to condemn the group’s demonstration, asserting that the strike is “unfair” since a “very important announcement”  had been made yesterday to halt hikes in fuel prices.

“The government has to act in the best interest of the majority of the country, not just one specific sector, although specific sectors may also be helped.  If we hadn’t enacted the Stabilization Fund, the price of the fuel consumed by the poorest people in Chile, which is paraffin, would not have gone down at all”, stated Francisco Vidal.

This was the argument the minister used to defend the million-dollar injection made to the Fuel Price Stabilization Fund (FEPC).  Vidal also criticized the stance taken by the truck drivers, who had been warning since last week that they would begin a strike on Tuesday if the Executive Branch did not announce a cut on the diesel excise tax.