After an intense debate, the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate approved this Tuesday a decree sent by the government of Sebastián Piñera that allows the state of emergency to be extended in the southern part of the country.
The measure allows the f forces to signed follow by others 15 days in charge of security tasks in the Biobío and La Araucanía regions, about 600 kilometers south of Santiago, where violent incidents have been recorded in the framework of the Mapuche conflict.
Piñera decided to declare a state of emergency for the first time the 12 October “for serious disturbance to public order”, which was extended by 30 days. But to extend it, the president needed the approval of Parliament.
Thus, with the favorable votes of the opposition, more than 2. 000 Army troops —Supported by Mowag tanks, Cougar helicopters, airplanes and ships for maritime operations— will continue their work in the area.
Of the almost 145. 000 participants who voted in a non-binding citizen consultation carried out electronically between Friday 5 and Sunday 7 November in the region of La Araucanía, on 81, 56% said they were at Please keep the measure .
Opposing opinions icas
Part of the roots of the centennial Mapuche conflict have to do with the loss of land of this indigenous people, the lack of recognition by the Chilean State and the discrimination they suffer .
In recent decades, several Chilean governments have tried to address the issue, but various historians and analysts agree that efforts to find solutions have not been sufficient.
This time, the decision to declare a state of emergency by the Piñera government arouses opinions strongly opposed in the Chilean political sphere.
During the debates in Parliament, those who did not support the extension of the state of emergency they argued that this “discards the option of dialogue” , that it is “useless” and that it only generates “more resentment and violence.” Given this, some called them “accomplices of violence.”
In the Upper House, the Minister of the Interior, Rodrigo Delgado , acknowledged that the presence of the military in the south “does not solve the underlying problems” and stressed that the government is committed to both the state of emergency and dialogue.
According to a partial count presented to Parliament by the Piñera administration, during the period in which the armed forces have been in charge of security in the area, arson attacks, usurpations and ground shots, among others.
Without However, violent incidents have not stopped.
The most serious was registered on November 3, when a confrontation ended with the death of a Mapuche community member from 23 years. The circumstances are being investigated.
There was also sabotage of a railway line, after which a freight train derailed and burned; arson attacks on houses and machinery.
Different Mapuche groups have claimed responsibility for these attacks through pamphlets and banners found in the places of the attacks.
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