Sponsors
Alarming Figures from Sebastián Piñera's Government
Concepción, March 15, 2022.- With the change of government and the departure of President Sebastián Piñera, the Association of Forestry Contractors A.G., ACOFORAG, presented "the figures of attacks and murders that terrorism, violence, destruction, and the inability to govern have inflicted on our sector from March 11, 2018, to March 11, 2022," explained René Muñoz Klock, manager of this association, which brings together over 120 companies providing forestry services.
These figures show that, out of a total of 340 arson attacks against forestry contractors between 2014 and 2022, 73% of them—that is, 248—occurred during Sebastián Piñera's second term. "Moreover, during this period, we saw the month with the highest number of attacks: September 2021, with 11 incidents. And even more gravely, our sector mourns the murder of three forestry workers in this year, 2022," lamented Muñoz.
As a result of the attacks in this period in the southern macrozone, there has been significant damage to the work and investments of 244 forestry contractors. "We estimate that 24,000 forestry workers, along with their families, have suffered the impact of irrational violence from criminal groups and illicit associations that move freely through this territory. There is fear of going out to work in the forests—which is, of course, entirely understandable—so many companies no longer participate in forestry operations, nor do they travel certain roads in areas seized and isolated by criminal groups in the southern regions," he stated.
According to the figures provided by the association, 1,158 pieces of forestry equipment and trucks have been destroyed, and the conflict zones have expanded to 49 municipalities in the Biobío, La Araucanía, Los Ríos, and Los Lagos regions—46% of this territory—35 more municipalities than were affected before 2018.
"The facts and figures are undeniable. Mr. Piñera left a country where these regions lack the rule of law, institutions do not function, and many people continue to endure the violent actions of terrorist groups that face no counterbalance or state control. A new political cycle begins, once again with good intentions—a government we hope will stop the violence and show more concern for the victims," concluded René Muñoz.
