After 2 trucks burned, attacks in the south total 8 under this government and unions see violence escalating

The burning of two trucks providing services to forestry operations in the Inspector Fernández sector, in the commune of Victoria (La Araucanía), became the eighth high-profile violent incident perpetrated in the southern macrozone since the Government took office on March 11.

This adds to the burning of an electric generator in Alto Biobío (March 12); three incidents related to the theft of pickup trucks in Ercilla and the destruction by fire of one of these in Collipulli (April 16); the attack on four pickup trucks from a forestry operation in Collipulli (May 7); and the shootings at a police unit carrying out a protection measure on a farm in the San Ramón sector, in Ercilla (May 12) and at the 6th Police Station in that same commune (May 13).

Land freight transport organizations condemned the new attack. The Confederation of Truck Owners of Chile (CNDC) called on the Government "to keep its word to put an end to violence and terrorism" in the south, warning that "we cannot continue with the same situation."

The National Confederation of Freight Transport (CNTC) stated that the new attack "generates concern in the sector" and urged authorities to "provide greater security guarantees."

From the Chilean Wood Corporation (Corma), its president, Rodrigo O'Ryan, expressed the forestry sector's concern "that the country seems to have become accustomed to acts of violence and armed attacks in the southern macrozone."

While he valued the work of the prosecutor's office and the police "in dismantling violent groups and prosecuting their crimes," he noted that "after this type of procedure, reprisals are to be expected, so the State must reinforce intelligence, prevention, and protection efforts."

Sebastián Naveillán, former member of the Commission for Peace and Understanding and president of the Malleco Farmers Association, lamented that despite the growing number of attacks and the visit of President José Antonio Kast to La Araucanía, "we have still not been able to learn of any type of planning to know how these armed and terrorist groups, which remain operational, will be confronted."

The president of the Multigremial de La Araucanía, Patricio Santibáñez, warned of a "resurgence of terrorist violence" and called for applying "additional measures."

Entry into Temucucui

Following the second entry into the Temucuicui community, during Wednesday's session, the former regional prosecutor and current presidential delegate in the area, Francisco Ljubetic, stated that "through concrete actions, we have demonstrated that it is possible to enter (...). A relevant factor mentioned before March 11 was the impossibility of carrying out any type of procedure, because the difficulties and associated risks were enormous."

He argued that "institutions, properly coordinated, can enter any territory and any home."

Asked about what background information changed in that area, Ljubetic said that "there are relevant reasons; one of them is the political and police will to comply with court orders, to which is added the Executive's support to carry out the procedures and investigations (...). When decisions are made and carried out, results are achieved."

He added that "the investigations that have led to arrests, formal charges, pretrial detentions, and convictions of a significant number of people linked to acts of violence have been diminishing their capacity for action. The seizure of multiple weapons also contributes to this (...). All of this makes us understand that we are in a better position to enforce court orders."

Source:El Mercurio