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The Alarming Figures of Sebastián Piñera's Government for Forestry Contractors
According to figures provided by the industry association, 1,158 pieces of forestry equipment and forestry trucks have been destroyed, and conflict areas have expanded to 49 communes.
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 government. "Additionally, during this period, we experienced the month with the highest number of attacks: September 2021, with 11 attacks. And even more gravely, our sector mourns the murder of three forestry workers during 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 been impacted by the irrational violence from criminal groups and illicit associations that move freely through this territory. There is fear about going out to work in the forests, which is, of course, more than understandable. That’s why 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 figures provided by the association, 1,158 pieces of forestry equipment and forestry trucks have been destroyed, and conflict areas have expanded to 49 communes in the Biobío, La Araucanía, Los Ríos, and Los Lagos regions—46% of this territory—35 more communes 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 control from the State. 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.
Source:latribuna.cl
