Attacks intensify debate over potential de-escalation of state of exception in the southern macro-zone

Three violent incidents were perpetrated during Thursday in La Araucanía. Two of the episodes were recorded in Ercilla and the third, in Collipulli.

The series of attacks was characterized by the robbery with intimidation of vehicles by hooded individuals carrying weapons. In one of the cases, the burning of a pickup truck was also carried out.

One month and four days after the attack on March 12 that destroyed an electricity generator in Alto Biobío, in the mountainous area of the Biobío Region, this time the episodes of force were perpetrated in the context of the debate regarding the de-escalation of the state of exception in the southern macro-zone, which has been discussed by the Minister of Defense, Fernando Barros.

In fact, in the middle of the week, while visiting the Defense committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, the Secretary of State stated that "we know there is concern" and reiterated that "it is not natural for the Armed Forces to be in charge of public order control for four years," alluding to the fact that on May 17 the constitutional provision will complete 48 months of uninterrupted validity.

Similarly, he explained that his portfolio is not going to solve the problem of violence in the south and that the debate about the military presence must be addressed in a secret session.

According to police reports, the first of the actions took place in the rural area of Ercilla. There, armed hooded individuals stole a pickup truck. In the same municipality, in the Chacaico sector, workers repairing roads were intercepted and intimidated with weapons.

The third episode of the violent day occurred at kilometer 14 of Route R-49, in Collipulli. There, a vehicle with three hooded individuals intercepted a pickup truck carrying two people. After threatening them, they set the vehicle on fire.

Meeting with minister

Regarding this resurgence of violence, the Multigremial of La Araucanía stated that the attacks "reactivated the alert and reinforced the warning regarding a potential weakening of security measures."

The president of the organization, Patricio Santibáñez, announced that he will request a meeting with Minister Barros to express the opposition of the victims and the guilds to a potential withdrawal of the military presence. "The country must understand that this is not resolved," he said, and stressed that "this shows that the groups are still operating and that there is no real dismantling."

Gloria Naveillán, a deputy of the National Libertarian Party, condemned the events and questioned the Executive. "What is the Government doing with the security agenda? Why doesn't it want to comment? Do they want to downplay it to eliminate the state of exception?"

In turn, PPD deputy Andrea Parra lamented that "the Government has not even made contact with the victims, despite security being its number one priority."

Source:El Mercurio