In the northern part of the country, the State of Emergency was recently implemented to contain the migration crisis. But in the south, the same measure has already taken time, specifically since October 12 of last year. It had a similar objective: to combat acts of violence in the regions of Biobío, La Araucanía, Los Ríos and Los Lagos. However, despite efforts, the goal has not been met.
This is what emerges from the latest “Barometer of conflicts with an indigenous connotation 2021”, which is prepared every six months by the Multigremial de La Araucanía. According to the results of the study, published by the newspaper The Mercury106% more acts of violence were recorded throughout 2021 in the mentioned regions compared to the 12 months of 2020.
According to the figures in that report, last year, through press information validated by statements by authorities, police and prosecutors, 471 acts of violence were registered, against 228 episodes of the same nature reported during 2020, which correspond to complaints before prosecutors and both police. Regarding the distribution of force actions in 2021, La Araucanía concentrates 54.6%, with 257 cases; Biobío, 42.7% (199); Los Ríos, 2.3% (11) and Los Lagos, 0.4% (2).
What are the most common crimes? The list is led by arson attacks, with 267 cases, followed by attacks against Carabineros and the PDI (45), robbery with violence (44), frustrated homicides (28), illegal carrying of weapons (21) and homicides (11).
As for the assets that were destroyed by arson attacks last year, the figure reaches 905 over the 539 assets affected in 2020. Vehicles (395); houses, cabins, sheds, warehouses and other constructions (269) and machinery and equipment (218), are the most common.
Effect State of Exception?
Although the entry into force of the State of Exception caused the episodes of violence to decrease, according to figures from the Ministry of the Interior, when counting the figures in general, acts of violence increased.
Thus, for example, in a period between October 14, 2021 and January 9 of this year in relation to the quarter between July 18 and October 13 of last year, violent acts went from 449 to 255, which implies a decrease of 43%; arson attacks fell from 98 to 84 (14%) and usurpations, from 73 to 20 (73%).
However, if the exercise of comparing the general figures of the “Barometer” between July 1 and September 30 of last year is carried out, 121 crimes and violent actions are recorded. Meanwhile, in the period from October 1 to December 31, 2021 —which includes 79 days under a state of exception— there are 129 episodes, which accounts for an increase of 7% compared to the previous quarter.
Why these differences? The president of the Multigremial de La Araucanía, Patricio Santibáñez, told the aforementioned media outlet that the study of the entity he leads focuses on the events with the greatest public connotation and that had an informative impact in 2021 “and we imagine that the authorities have access to all the events that have occurred, some of which do not become public knowledge or are not reported to the prosecution.”
“Although there may be occasional decreases, the long-term situation accounts for the increase in these events,” he added, and assured that this “trend is based on impunity and the lack of effectiveness of the judicial system.”
