Chile Calls up Armed Forces Reserves Amid Continuing Street Demonstrations

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The decree authorizing the summoning of reserves was published last Wednesday, October 23rd, by Miguel Crispi, a deputy from the opposition party Frente Amplio (Broad Front), in his Twitter account.

The Minister of the Interior, Andrés Chadwick, confirmed the accuracy of the document.

For Crispi, the document is alarming and sensitive. He said that the country is not at war and that the government should provide clarifications regarding the increase of the military presence on the streets.

The decree, issued by the Under-Secretariat of the Armed Forces, enables the state of emergency to be extended for up to 13 days and for reserves to be summoned.

Minister Andrés Chadwick said that the decision was taken by the Armed Forces themselves.

“The Armed Forces can call up their reserves, not only as reinforcements, but we must also understand that their days have been very long, very hard, and that the [mobilized] personnel need their due rest, and so, I imagine, the chief [of the National Defense] will have to explain his motives”.

Chilean newspaper La Tercera reported that Army sources said that the summons of reserve personnel was intended for them “to serve in the military facilities providing administrative and logistical support so as not to delay the paperwork and for the day-to-day running of the unit”.

The same source said that not the entire reserve was called, but only a few people, and gradually. The decree was intended to deploy soldiers from the active service of the Armed Forces to act in the security of the streets, while the reserves would take over administrative tasks.

Chilean President Sebastián Piñera said that “the government, in talks with the heads of the National Defense, is working on a plan to reestablish normality in the lives of our compatriots, which is underway and is reflected in reducing the periods affected by curfews. We want to end the curfew and suspend the state of emergency“.

Source: Agência Brasil