Forestry Contractors Claim "New Generations" Are Carrying Out Attacks in Southern Macrozone

The Association of Forestry Contractors (Acoforag) stated that in the Southern Macrozone, the "new generations" of those who perpetrated attacks in the 1990s are now active. The group tallied 21 arson attacks recorded in 2025.

The union provided a summary of the violent incidents that occurred last year between Bío Bío and Los Lagos, showing a 4% increase compared to 2024, with 2,600 workers affected, 74 pieces of equipment destroyed, and property losses exceeding 13 billion pesos.

The manager of the Association of Forestry Contractors, René Muñoz, indicated that with the new Government there is an opportunity to find solutions, although he acknowledged there is not much optimism because it is a problem that has been dragging on for more than 20 years.

In this regard, the leader said that the arson attacks are now being carried out by the "new generations" of those who committed the first acts of violence in the 1990s.

"The solution is not easy. Today, the new generations of those who started in '97, '98 are active. So there will always be anarchists in the country who take up causes that may be just or unjust and will adopt them as banners of struggle. And that is a big problem. And it's not just a problem in Chile, it's a problem worldwide, society in general has changed," he stated.

Muñoz pointed out that there is an "opportunity" to solve this situation, as the State or the authorities can apply measures to strengthen the forestry sector.

"The opportunity is for the State to have the political will to solve this issue. At least we have been through three governments where that political will has not existed. We hope this government has it. And in that sense, this must be expressed in various measures that need to be taken based on what is happening in the Araucanía region, in the southern macrozone, with little investment, with contempt for the forestry sector," he noted.

Among other things, the leader indicated that it is necessary for the authorities to advance with the processing of bills such as the Rules for the Use of Force so that the Army has the political backing to act.

According to him, so far, the Armed Forces act as "accompaniment" and it is important that they participate in the control, search, and imprisonment of the "terrorists."

Source:BiobioChile