The Undersecretary of the Interior, Manuel Monsalve, addressed the complaint made by the general manager of the CMPC, Francisco Ruiz-Tagle. The director of La Papelera accused the existence of a fire attack network on properties owned by the company, in addition to threats that brigade members of the Chilean forestry and paper holding company controlled by the Matte family would be receiving, amid the commotion over the forest fires that scorch the south-central zone of the country.
The official from the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security said that he hoped that all this information would be brought to the attention of the Public Ministry, “which is what corresponds.” Likewise, Undersecretary Monsalve reiterated the support and collaboration of the Government for the investigations carried out by the Prosecutor’s Office, which seek to determine the responsibilities and “eventual” perpetrators of the fires.
“We have already said that any threat or obstacle regarding brigade members, whether public or private, who are fighting fires, for the government are serious events,” he added, along with delivering a balance of the detainees accused of causing fires.
“I want to reiterate today that there are 34 detainees by the Carabineros, there are detainees by the PDI. Today there are 58 investigations opened by the PDI, plus 12 investigations opened by the Carabineros,” Monsalve explained.
According to Ruiz-Tagle’s account on radio Biobío, Yesterday in Angol, “there have been people who have blocked the road and threatened our CMPC brigade members to prevent them from going through to fight fires.” He pointed out that the event occurred on the road between Collipulli and Angol, where he affirms that CMPC has suffered seven new fires, with 50 active sources.
The general manager of the CMPC appreciates the joint work they carry out with the authorities, but maintains that “more security” is needed in the area affected by the flames.
