Chilean Armed Forces support irregular migration, generating tensions with Peru

Peru and Chile are going through a tense moment after a report by the Peruvian television program Cuarto Poder revealed that on Chile’s southern border, Chilean police and military gave directions to hundreds of migrants so that they could illegally enter Peru.

“Concerning the report of a TV media about the illegal entry of migrants through the southern border, the issue will be the subject of a serious discussion with Chilean authorities in the framework of the consultations that are being carried out on the border,” the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said via Twitter.

In this regard, the Prime Minister of Peru, Alberto Otárola, assured that the Government of his country would ask Chile for a report on the actions of the Chilean Armed Forces.

Meanwhile, from Santiago, Foreign Minister Alberto van Klaveren emphasized that “there is an open channel” with Peru, a country with which “a very positive dialogue” has historically been maintained.

“We are going to analyze all the background information presented to us in this regard”, the head of Chilean diplomacy assured the press.

Chilean Defense Minister Maya Fernandez asked to wait for the results of the internal investigation.

“We have to be serious regarding this. Before speaking out or rushing, we want to know how the events occurred”, she remarked.

The report shows hundreds of foreigners of different nationalities at the border waiting to be able to cross into Peru.

However, because most of the migrants are undocumented, the migration personnel do not allow them to pass, and the migrants choose to enter illegally through the Atacama desert on foot.

According to the report, the Chilean military and carabineros marked the way for migrants heading disoriented toward Peru.

“See those lights over there, that big light you see? That’s Tacna,” says a Chilean military officer, adding that “that’s where the beach is. Now you are going to walk towards there, towards where my flashlight is shining”.

The Chilean indicated that there was no Peruvian police presence in that direction and suggested to the migrants how to act in case of encountering Peruvian patrols.

The same attitude was repeated with other Chilean soldiers who intercepted migrants on the road and showed them the way to Peru.

The situation is part of an intensification of migratory policies by the Government of Gabriel Boric and the reinforcement of border controls.

With information from Sputnik