New arson attack in southern Chile sets fire to 5 forest machines

At least five logging company vehicles were destroyed by flames in a new arson attack in the Los Rios region of southern Chile, an episode that is part of an ancestral conflict between Mapuche communities, the government and companies that exploit ancient ancient forests.

According to local media reports, five vehicles were vandalized on Thursday evening at Foresma’s logging site, located in the city of Valdivia in the Los Rios region, nearly 900 kilometers south of Santiago.

The incident comes hours after Deputy Public Works Minister José Andrés Herrera announced new security measures in the area aimed at reducing rural violence.

“We want to categorically express our absolute condemnation of these criminal acts. We believe in the work done by both the prosecutor’s office and the police to arrest the perpetrators and will appreciate the legal action,” said Valdivian Mayor Carla Amtmann.

Mapuche conflict

In various regions of the south. Chile For decades there has been a so-called “mapuche conflict”, which is opposed by the state and the agricultural and forestry companies of large economic groups with some of the indigenous communities of this ethnic group – the majority in the country – who claim the lands they have inhabited for centuries.

In the past year, the dispute has seen an escalation in violence with frequent burning of cars and property, fatal shootings and hunger strikes by indigenous prisoners.

The lands claimed by the Mapuche were occupied in the late 19th century by the Chilean state in a process officially known as the “Pacification of Araucania” and are now owned mostly by large companies or families descended from settlers.

Given the increase in violence, the region of La Araucanía and the two provinces of the neighboring region of Biobio (including Arauco) have been in a state of exception since May, a measure that allows the deployment of armed forces to cooperate in the control of public order. (EFE)