STUDENTS IN STREETS; SHOTS OF COFFIN; STUDENTS WITH PROCESSION OF COFFIN.




Initials JP/VS/PN/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE URUGUAYAN GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN ACTION TO CURB CURRENT STUDENT DISORDERS IN THE CAPITAL, MONTEVIDEO, BY SUSPENDING ALL ACTIVITY IN THE CENTRAL UNIVERSITY UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF NEXT MONTH. ACTIVITIES HAVE ALSO BEEN SUSPENDED IN THE CAPITAL'S SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND TECHNICAL COLLEGES. TWO STUDENTS, A BOY AND A GIRL, DIED DURING WEEKEND CLASHES WITH THE POLICE. THE FUNERAL OF THE BOY, 17-YEAR-OLD STUDENT HUGH DOS SANTOS, WAS HELD IN MONTEVIDEO LAST SUNDAY AND IT WAS ATTENDED BY MANY STUDENTS.

URUGUAY'S TROUBLES STEM FROM TOUGH AUSTERITY MEASURES IMPOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PROP UP THE COUNTRY'S SAGGING ECONOMY AND RUNAWAY INFLATION WHICH REACHED 130 PER CENT LAST YEAR.

DISSATISFIED STUDENTS ALLIED THEMSELVES WITH TRADES UNIONISTS AFTER THE GOVERNMENT FROZE WAGES, SALARIES AND PRICES ON JUNE 28 AND FOLLOWING A NEW OUTBREAK OF DISORDERS THE POLICE STAGED RAIDS AND SEARCHES IN THE UNIVERSITIES, HITHERTO PROTECTED BY A SELF-GOVERNMENT STATUTE.