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State of Emergency Reaches 3 Years in Southern Macrozone, Experts Say It Requires "Comprehensive Policy"

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This Saturday marks three years of uninterrupted application of the state of emergency in 53 communes of Biobío and La Araucanía, a measure implemented to address severe acts of violence.

The measure, which requires consultation with the National Congress, has been extended 56 times in both chambers.

Ahead of the electoral campaign, analysts believe that, alongside the consensus it has garnered, the issue should be part of a national agreement and a comprehensive policy against violence and terrorism.

"Here, it is necessary to agree that violence and terrorism exist in the southern macrozone, and therefore, the first measure should be a political pact rejecting such actions," emphasizes Pablo Urquizar, former security coordinator for the macrozone and head of the Observatory on Organized Crime and Terrorism (Ocrit) at Andrés Bello University.

He adds that "once everyone shares the same diagnosis, the situation in that area must be addressed with a state policy, independent of the current government."

The lawyer states that a political agreement "must be based on the fact that violence and terrorism undermine fundamental rights and democracy because they use force as a political tool."

He highlights that "the state of emergency has reduced violent incidents and increased arrests of radicalized and terrorist groups," and that "the need for its continuation has sparked a debate leading to a positive outcome."

Urquizar asserts that the enactment of laws related to this issue has demonstrated "the unity of state action" and lists the passage of laws against organized crime, timber theft, land usurpation, the creation of the Ministry of Security, and the prosecution of terrorist offenses.

However, he warns that "the state of emergency alone is not enough; a comprehensive strategy against violence and terrorism is needed, addressing prevention, protection, prosecution, and victim reparations," as established by the Ministry of Security law.

Creating a Support Mechanism

For Felipe Harboe, former Deputy Interior Minister and researcher at the Center for Security and Organized Crime Studies (Cescro) at San Sebastián University, "Chile faces a reality acknowledged by citizens and lawmakers: police forces are insufficient to control the violence in the southern macrozone, necessitating the involvement of the Armed Forces."

He stresses that "if this is to be normalized and institutionalized, what is needed is no longer a state of emergency but a support mechanism for such situations," referring to measures that establish a permanent policy to safeguard the area. Harboe urges candidates to "address this issue by seeking long-term and structural solutions."

Source:El Mercurio