Persons from Punta Arenas, Chile on strike after government announcement to increase gas prices

January 14, 2011 Citizens from, Chile, the world's southernmost city and capital of the , remained on strike Wednesday after Sebastián Piñera announced an increase in natural gas prices by 16.8 percent, in that region.

Citizens from Punta Arenas and politicians are demanding that Piñera maintain subsidies on natural gas. "We want dialogue, to continue talking in a serious and responsible way about the future of Magallanes,", the government spokeswoman, said on Wednesday morning.

Piñera's government justifies the increase of the gas price "as a technical decision in response to its declining reserves." Two persons were killed amid the protests in the capital of Magallanes, on Tuesday night.