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Government Gives Positive Assessment of Two Years of Constitutional Exception in the South

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• Forestry contractors, however, are calling for greater military involvement in control operations and the search for suspects.

The Government gave a positive assessment of the two years of constitutional state of exception in the Southern Macrozone, highlighting a notable decrease in arson attacks thanks to the support of the Army in the tasks carried out by Carabineros and the PDI on roads and highways in the provinces of Malleco and Cautín.

"We have seen a 46 percent decrease in violent incidents in the region compared to 2023. In the case of arson attacks, there has been a 56 percent drop—according to Carabineros' records," detailed the Presidential Delegate of La Araucanía, José Montalva.

"There are almost the same number of arrests (1,050) in 2023 compared to those linked to rural violence," added the regional authority.

The manager of the Association of Forestry Contractors, René Muñoz, stated that "two years after the establishment of the state of exception in May 2022, we believe it has been a useful tool. The Armed Forces (FF.AA) patrol, control, and monitor roads, but they cannot take action, and that’s where we believe progress should be made."

"The FF.AA should now, with the Rules on the Use of Force (RUF), have greater participation in operations, searches, and territorial control," added the leader of one of the sectors most affected by rural violence in the area.

Authorities also considered the conviction of the leader of the Arauco Malleco Coordinating Group (CAM), Héctor Llaitul, who must serve a 23-year prison sentence, as a major blow to rural violence.

However, the Public Ministry insisted that the conviction of the Mapuche community member does not mean that this radical organization operating in the Southern Macrozone has been dismantled.

Source:cooperativa.cl