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Government Blames WAM for Attack in Rucalhue: Files Lawsuit Under Anti-Terrorism Law
Yesterday, April 28, the Government filed a lawsuit under the anti-terrorism law following the attack that occurred on April 20, where masked individuals set fire to over 50 trucks and machinery at the facilities of the Rucalhue Hydroelectric Power Plant project in Santa Bárbara, Biobío Region.
The legal action was led by the Ministry of Security, represented by lawyers Francisca Souper and Felipe Guerrero. In it, they point to the radical group Weichán Auka Mapu (WAM) as potential perpetrators of the attack.
"At the scene, two banners were found with the slogans: 'FREEDOM FOR LUIS TRANAMIL AND ALL P.P.M. YORDAN LLEMPI, MATÍAS CATRILEO, PRESENT IN THE WEICHAN. OUR GOAL IS THE ENTIRE WALLMAPU.' '5 YEARS OF MILITARIZATION, SABOTAGE ACTION, MARICHIWEU' and other illegible slogans, demands initially consistent with those of the radical group WEICHAN AUKA MAPU, known by the acronym WAM, which has claimed responsibility for various arson attacks in the area."
The lawsuit details a series of attacks claimed by WAM, stating that "the aforementioned facts allow linking the attack denounced in this lawsuit with others in the macrozone that have been claimed by the radical group WAM, an entity composed of more than three people, enduring over time, with an internal organization seeking territorial control over much of the macrozone. They make demands to authorities regarding the freedom of those they call Mapuche political prisoners, commit five acts of sabotage and arson against individuals and companies to discourage investments and force them to leave the area, employing the same modus operandi marked by uncontrolled violence and the use of firearms."
Additionally, they state that "it can be concluded, based on the evidence, that the WAM group has sustained actions punishable under current Law No. 21.732, consistently over time and with the characteristics of a terrorist association, committing crimes similar to the attack carried out in Santa Bárbara, as described in this legal action."
In its lawsuit, the Government also justifies invoking the Anti-Terrorism Law, as the Executive argues it meets the following criteria: "Multiple individuals; Functional organization; Temporal stability or 'sustained action over time'; Criminal plan; Specific purposes or capabilities; Typical conduct of participating in a terrorist association."
In total, the Executive is suing for the crimes of "terrorist association, arson, illegal possession of firearms, possession of prohibited firearms, and unjustified shootings."
Source:Emol.com
