Arson attack leaves forestry machinery destroyed in La Araucanía
In an act of violence that continues to disturb the peace in La Araucanía, unidentified individuals perpetrated an arson attack on the Pidima property of Forestal Arauco, located in the commune of Ercilla.
The incident, which resulted in the destruction of a backhoe, was accompanied by the appearance of a banner with messages demanding the release of Mapuche prisoners and the departure of forestry companies from the ancestral territory.
Lieutenant Colonel Raúl Quintanilla, of the Malleco Prefecture, reported that after being alerted by the victim, Carabineros arrived at the scene to verify the facts. The banner found bore the inscription: "Freedom for the Mapuche prisoners. Out with the forestry companies from Mapuche territory. Out with the Yana Kona, the territory is not for sale, it is defended! Amulepu Tain Weichan", a clear message of resistance and territorial vindication.
The on-duty prosecutor ordered scientific investigations to be carried out by Labocar and the OS-9 Department of Carabineros de Chile, in order to clarify the facts and find those responsible. Additionally, protective measures were decreed for a second piece of machinery that, due to a breakdown, could not be removed from the site, leaving it exposed to possible new attacks.
This event adds to a series of conflicts that have affected the region, where the demand of indigenous peoples for the recovery of their ancestral lands has generated tensions with forestry companies and the Chilean state. The situation in La Araucanía remains a challenge for the authorities, who seek to balance respect for the rights of indigenous peoples with the security and economic development of the region.
