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Acoforag: "We have had a state of emergency for three years and we are still subjected to endless violence"

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A permanent tension is what victims of rural violence and forestry contractors in the southern macrozone claim to live under. Although they acknowledge that these types of crimes have decreased, they pointed out that the attacks are of greater magnitude. An example of this is the nearly one-year gap between two tragic milestones in this context.

Last Sunday, April 20 of this year, the attack on the Rucalhue hydroelectric plant in Santa Bárbara occurred, where more than 50 trucks were burned. Almost a year ago, on April 27, 2024, three police officers were killed in an ambush in Cañete, which caused shock.

René Muñoz, manager of the Association of Forestry Contractors (Acoforag), stated that "we have already had a state of emergency for three years, and we are still subjected to this endless violence." He believes that "today we are in an environment of tense calm where these violent episodes, like the one in Rucalhue, appear every so often, and we believe this will continue as long as there is no political will from the State."

Muñoz acknowledged that there has been progress, especially in legal matters, such as the timber theft law or the anti-terrorism law. However, he expressed that "there may be many laws, but without political will, there will be no progress because outbreaks of violence will continue. The problem has not been addressed holistically."

What does this mean? Muñoz argued that "this means all institutions must function. The government got nervous because the Chinese came to say there is no security, but this is something we in the forestry sector have been denouncing for 12 years."

Finally, he stated that "to terrorist attacks, we must add intentional wildfires and timber theft, which are events that affect the forestry sector and worsen development conditions for entrepreneurs in the region."

Meanwhile, Fernando Fuentealba, president of the Foundation for Families Victims of Terrorism in the southern macrozone, said that "one thing is the statistics on crime reduction and statements we have heard, like the former energy seremi saying the country is a 'cup of milk,' but another thing is the reality for those of us living in the macrozone. The violence continues, and for us, the same feelings of helplessness, frustration, and fear remain."

In this regard, he argued that "there may be a decrease in the number of attacks, but the brutality of these acts has increased."

Ultimately, he stated that "we have always asked for real support for the Armed Forces and the police, as well as greater agility in issuing investigation orders and responding to areas where attacks occur. Coordination between the private sector and the Public Ministry or the Ministry of Security is needed to prevent machinery burnings."

Source:La Estrella