Boric gains support to extend state of emergency in southern Chile

Chilean President Gabriel Boric won this Wednesday, for the third time, the support of the Chamber of Deputies to extend the state of emergency in two regions in the south of the country so that the armed forces continue to patrol the roads, where a wave of violence has subsided. under military control.

Of the 135 deputies present at the plenary session, 119 voted in favor, eight against and eight abstained. On this occasion the government obtained eight more votes than for the second extension. From now on, Boric must request an authorization every 15 days.

The targeted state of exception has been in force since mid-May in the entire region of La Araucanía and in two of the three provinces of Biobío, 600 kilometers south of the Chilean capital.

In the last 24 hours, hooded men burned eight trucks belonging to a forestry company in the nearby region of Los Ríos and three cabins and two warehouses in Biobío.

During the plenary session, several deputies asked the government to extend the state of emergency to Los Ríos.

The indigenous inhabitants of La Araucanía and Biobío are peacefully demanding the restitution of lands that were usurped from them in the 19th century, although there are also groups that pressure by attacking assets of forestry companies installed in the area, which are added to violent actions by criminals, wood thieves and drug gangs, according to authorities.

The current legislation obliges the president to have the authorization of Congress to extend the state of emergency that, according to what the Minister of the Interior, Izkia Siches, told the plenary session of the Chamber of Deputies, “has allowed deterring acts of violence… and a reduction of the acts of rural violence”.

Several pro-government deputies, as on previous occasions, rejected the extension because they oppose the “militarization” of both regions, while the right-wing opposition requested, without success, to extend the state of emergency to urban areas.

The socialist Mapuche deputy Emilia Nuyado anticipated her rejection because, she stated, “the possibility of dialogue is unfortunately not going to happen” and she urged the Mapuche people “to unite, to organize, to strongly defend the territory (and) their rights.”

Prior to become president in march Boric was an opponent of the state of emergency, as was his political coalition formed by the Communist Party and the leftist Broad Front, but the wave of violence led him to change his mind.

This week, Congress approved a bill, which, if enacted, will allow the armed forces to protect critical infrastructure, such as essential and public utility facilities or services, without a state of exception, although if its validity exceeds 60 days, yes. Congressional approval will be required.

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