Chilean protesters balk at mortgage debts

SANTIAGO, Chile, April 24 (UPI) -- A group of Chilean homeowners climbed a construction crane in protest over their mortgage rates and demanded their debts be forgiven.

"We're demanding the automatic cancellation (of mortgage debts) for many families in the country," said a spokesman for the group protesting in Santiago, EFE news agency reported Friday.

The protest began this week with a demonstration in front of the Chilean Housing Ministry.

Authorities said they arrested 42 people during the protests.

"For more than three years, the president (Michelle Bachelet) made a commitment with us and has not fulfilled her word. It's the obstinacy of the government, which doesn't want to understand that there are families that really need help," said the group's spokeswoman Roxana Miranda.