Chile again extends period of militarization in the south

The Chilean Senate approved a new extension of the emergency constitutional state of exception in the southern part of the country, as a result of the constant acts of violence registered in the regions of La Araucanía and Biobío.

“With 33 votes in favor, zero against and one abstention, the Senate approved the extension of the validity of the emergency constitutional state of exception requested by President Gabriel Boric for the regions of La Araucanía and Biobío,” reported the National Congress through a statement.

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The measure, which was endorsed on the same day by the Chamber of Deputies, extends the militarization for two more weeks, starting from Monday, August 29, to Thursday, September 15.

For decades, in the south of Chile, specifically in the regions of La Araucanía and Biobío, arson and armed attacks against forestry companies, aggregates companies and churches have been recorded.

These acts of violence have been linked by some political sectors to the historic territorial demand of the Mapuche indigenous people, but these complaints have not been ratified by the courts.

Despite the fact that, during his candidacy, President Boric assured that he would not resort to militarization to solve the conflict, on May 17 he chose to apply the measure and since then he has requested permission from Congress to be able to extend it.

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