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Forest Contractors Reveal the Security Crisis in the Sector
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- René Muñoz Klock, manager of the Association of Forest Contractors, denounces the normalization of violence and organized crime in Chile's southern macrozone.
The Chilean forestry industry has been under constant threat for the past 27 years, with a marked increase in attacks since 2014. René Muñoz Klock, manager of the Association of Forest Contractors A.G., discussed the severe situation facing the sector on Radio El Conquistador's program Pasado Meridiano, highlighting the violence and crime that appear to have taken root in the country's southern macrozone.
He recalled that the first recorded attack occurred in 1997 in Lumaco, and since then, the industry has experienced fluctuations in the frequency of attacks, reaching a concerning average of four incidents per month since 2014. Muñoz Klock points out that this scenario has become normalized, with a total of 489 attacks in nearly 11 years, of which only three have been resolved by prosecutors.
He added that the situation is further complicated by the presence of organized crime in the region, which not only includes attacks against contractors and workers but also involves timber theft, arms trafficking, drug trafficking, and vehicle fencing. The association's manager criticizes the lack of state action and the absence of a joint political will among the three branches of government to confront and end this crisis.
Combating this violence is complex due to the nature of the area, with secondary roads and remote regions where police forces are often reluctant to intervene for fear of clashes with armed groups. Muñoz Klock urgently calls on the State to take the lead and act decisively in seeking solutions and apprehending those responsible for these criminal acts.
The full interview is available on El Conquistador's YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhkoOSTmFE0
