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Association of Forestry Contractors Denounces Extortion to Work in Forests

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The Association of Forestry Contractors denounced that the industry is being subjected to extortion, just like farmers, in order to work in forests without suffering arson attacks.

Manager René Muñoz Klock stated that "there is an issue occurring: extortion and 'toll payments' to work, just as happens in agriculture and also in telecommunications when antennas are installed."

"Today, it is a crime that we are reporting, but we cannot clarify it because ultimately—we have discussed it with the Prosecutor's Office—there are forestry contractors who have to pay to produce in certain areas to people who are profiting from this business today," he asserted.

Along these lines, he detailed that "they extort by saying, 'Here you have to work, but you have to pay this much, or if you want to remove your timber, you have to pay that much.' And that logic is what is emerging today."

Muñoz also suggested that this situation "could, in essence, cover up or explain the decrease in attacks, because it is easier, sitting comfortably in your living room, waiting to be paid a commission for allowing a contractor to work in a certain area."

Government Calls for Reporting

These types of situations have been discussed in security coordination meetings in the so-called southern macrozone, both in the Biobío Public Prosecutor's Office and in La Araucanía, but there has been no increase in reports regarding this issue.

In response to this situation, the presidential delegate in the Biobío Region, Eduardo Pacheco, called on contractors to formalize these accusations before the justice system.

"We find the union leader's denouncement very serious, and it is something that must be investigated, but it is also very relevant that for there to be an investigation, there must be formal complaints," emphasized the regional authority.

According to Pacheco, "there have been results in the provinces of Arauco and Biobío regarding the reduction of violent incidents, which are very significant. We have seen a decline of over 70% in such incidents during the last year."

Additionally, he mentioned that "gangs associated with timber theft have been dismantled, meaning the Government has addressed this matter as it should."

Source:Cooperativa