Santiago.- Since early today residents of more than 10 communities from the province’s southern zone resumed the peaceful protest to demand the repair of the Palo Amarillo-Matanzas highway, which connects several towns to the city.

Several demonstrators chained themselves to a vehicle as others play dominos and other games in the middle of the road, to draw the attention of the authorities.

The zone’s commercial activities, schools and transport are currently paralyzed, as a deadline the inhabitants had issued to resume the reconstruction of the highway expires today.

The strike, one of many in the last two years, also affects the communities Guayabal, La Jagua, Puñal, Laguna Prieta, Los Picos, Baitoa, La Zanja, among others.

Teobaldo Almonte, spokesman for the community organizations, who’s also in chains, said they’ll remain there until the authorities meet their demand. "If we must die here in this struggle, we’ll die here so our children can live better, in an atmosphere free of the dust raised by the vehicles which use this road."

A police contingent arrived in the zone of the protest, whose commander urged the demonstrators to remain calm and prevent disorder.