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Wave of Violence in La Araucanía: Truck Drivers Attacked and Threat Against Gendarmerie
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During the early hours, the town of Pailahueque, in the municipality of Ercilla, was the scene of a violent attack against truck drivers. A group of masked assailants attacked the drivers while they slept in the parking lot of the Lejano Oeste inn, beating them and setting fire to two of the six parked trucks. The attackers left a message addressed to Gendarmerie officials, escalating tensions in the Southern Macrozone.
The incidents were not limited to a single location. Almost simultaneously, on Route 5 South, two other trucks were targeted by gunfire. Fortunately, the drivers emerged unharmed and received police escorts. In a third incident, a forestry truck was set on fire between Nueva Imperial and Carahue, with the driver being assaulted. These attacks have led to an increased police presence in the region and calls for greater security from transport unions.
The banner found at the scene of the first attack was signed by the organization Resistencia Mapuche Malleco and contained threats against Néstor Flores, the regional director of Gendarmerie, and Héctor Miranda, the warden of Angol prison. The phrase "this is without crying" appears to echo the words of lonco Víctor Queipul, who was recently evicted from the Regional Directorate of Gendarmerie.
These events add to a series of violent incidents that have marked recent weeks in the region, including the burning of machinery and assaults on officials. The current situation reflects an escalation of rural violence that concerns authorities and the local population.
The Prosecutor's Office has already initiated the relevant proceedings, while traffic on the route affected by the latest attack remains interrupted. The community awaits responses and effective measures to restore peace and security in the area.
