"We are invisible to all governments": victims of attacks due to no mention in State of the Nation Address

Victims of rural violence in the Southern Macrozone claimed to be abandoned after President José Antonio Kast did not refer to the reparation law in his first State of the Nation Address. They stated that the government had a commitment it has yet to fulfill.

In his first State of the Nation Address, the president spoke about security in La Araucanía and announced a modification to the Indigenous Law so that lands can be leased and mortgaged, but he said nothing about the victims of attacks, particularly regarding any potential reparation.

The president of the Association of Victims of Rural Violence, Alejo Aprais, indicated that the lack of pronouncement on the matter confirms to them that "the victims of terrorism in La Araucanía are invisible to all governments."

"We believed and were hopeful that the president of the republic would report on the progress made on the reparation law," he stated. But that did not happen.

Modification to the Indigenous Law

Regarding the announcement of the reform to the Indigenous Law, the president of the Association of Farmers of Malleco, Sebastián Naveilán, commented, indicating that it is the right path. In his opinion, this legislation "has only brought poverty and division to the rural world."

A completely opposite opinion was expressed by representatives of Mapuche communities. They believe that the government is responding to the interests of economic groups that want to take over the lands.

Danko Marimán, from the Trawun of Temuco communities, pointed out that the reform proposed by the government is their way to continue with the dispossession and affect Mapuche culture. "It is a new attempt to carry out assimilationist, denialist policies that deny the rights of the Mapuche people," he reinforced.

While victims wait for the government to fulfill its commitments and compensate those affected by attacks, Mapuche communities declared themselves on alert and announced that they will reject the proposal to modify the indigenous law.

Source:BiobioChile