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After 500 Attacks, Forestry Contractors Urge Government to Dismantle Violent Groups in Its Final Year

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On Wednesday, February 26, in the commune of Los Sauces, north of La Araucanía, an arson attack on a forestry operation destroyed four pieces of machinery. The group of masked individuals involved in the incident also stole two trucks that have yet to be located but, in a recurring pattern, will likely be used to commit further crimes before being burned to block roads. This violent episode marks the fourth such incident this year in the southern macrozone and brings the total number of recorded cases to 500 since January 1, 2014, across 55 communes in four regions.

Regarding this, the manager of the Association of Forestry Contractors, René Muñoz, called on President Gabriel Boric to "focus on dismantling violent groups in the southern macrozone during his final year in office." While the industry representative acknowledges that violence has decreased since the implementation of the state of emergency—a measure that surpassed 1,000 days in February—he also believes "greater effectiveness is needed" to locate members of the groups still carrying out and claiming responsibility for these crimes.

Among the organizations operating in the so-called "red zone" that claim these attacks is the criminal group Resistencia Mapuche Malleco (RMM), which operates within the Temucuicui community and whose leader, Jorge Huenchullán, has been a fugitive from justice since July 2021. These acts, labeled as "sabotage," are also claimed by the Coordinadora Arauco Malleco (CAM), the Weichan Auka Mapu (WAM), and the Resistencia Mapuche Lafkenche (RML).

Similarly, the contractors' association noted that of the 2025 attacks, one occurred in Los Álamos, in the province of Arauco, south of Biobío, while the other three were concentrated in Los Sauces, in the province of Malleco. "This seems inexplicable to us, as it is an area with significant military and police presence, including an Army outpost on the route between Lumaco and Traiguén," Muñoz emphasized.

Burned Forestry Trucks Total 580

The 500 attacks have resulted in the destruction of 1,790 pieces of machinery, including 580 forestry trucks, 177 forestry tractors, and 160 pickup trucks. The financial damage is estimated at around $204 billion. Of the 500 attacks, 54% (271) occurred in La Araucanía, 34% (170) in Biobío, 8% (38) in Los Ríos, and 4% (21) in Los Lagos. The most affected communes over the past decade are Collipulli (48 attacks), Lumaco (42), Contulmo (40), Cañete (36), and Carahue (27).

99% of Cases Have Been Prosecuted

Lawyer Rodrigo Ruiz, who advises forestry contracting companies on legal actions, estimates that 99% of the attacks have been investigated. However, he notes that "in less than 3% of cases have the perpetrators been arrested, brought to justice, and convicted."

He points out that one of the challenges in achieving greater effectiveness is "the high evidentiary standard required in these cases." Additionally, he adds, "These are not just terrorist acts disguised as political claims; we are also dealing with a web of illicit associations linked to land seizures, timber theft, and drug trafficking."

Ruiz laments that the greatest impact of the 500 attacks has been "business closures, job losses, and investments leaving the country."

Source:El Mercurio