Quilapayun - Chile: Seige of Santa Maria de Iquique

The bloodiest massacre in Chile's history occurred on December 21, 1907. Workers in the nitrate mines, a leading industry owned largely by foreign (British and German) capital, struck on Dec. 4 demanding humane working conditions and higher wages. By Dec. 13 a general work stoppage in all the nitrate mines was announced. The miners were Bolivian, Argentine, Peruvian as well as Chileans. 18, 000 workers, together with wives and children marched without food and water to the port of Santa Mar+¡a de Iquique to seek support. Dec. 14, the maritime workers joined them in the strike. Roberto Silva Renard, the person appointed by President Montt to handle the situation, ordered the Army to fire into the miner's encampment in the schoolyard.