Death of Mapuche youth sparks clashes with police in southern Chile

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A wave of violence has been unleashed in southern Chile after a Mapuche community member died at the hands of police officers following a conflict in the town of Carahue, in the Araucanía Region, last Friday, July 9.

The death of the member of the pro-Mapuche group, Coordinadora Arauco Malleco (CAM), occurred after individuals attempted to attack a forestry property where 11 workers were present. According to the preliminary investigation, the individuals were carrying “high caliber” weapons with which they “attacked the Carabineros” guarding the site.

Consequently, the police used their weapons. According to a statement given hours later by the Carabineros involved, the shot against the community member, identified as Pablo Marchant, was fired at close range, and it appears that the police officers were not carrying their institutional cameras.

A worker was also wounded in the attack, and is now in a critical condition.

The incident triggered a series of attacks against forestry and police officers in southern Chile’s red zone, where this type of violence has been occurring for years.

The Chilean government has counted 64 violent incidents following the death of Pablo Marchant. “We are talking about midnight on Friday until this morning, 64 violent events, more shootings, more arson, more destruction, more pain, that is what we have today,” said Interior Minister Rodrigo Delgado on Monday (12).

Five trucks torched in attack

During the early hours of Monday, a violent attack was reported in the Pidima sector, in the interior of the Araucanía region, which left 5 torched trucks and a pick-up truck damaged.

According to witnesses at the scene, a group of armed hooded men were behind the attack on Ruta 5 Sur, which also left 3 people wounded.

Due to the attack, the El Bosque highway concessionaire stated that traffic remained interrupted in both directions from the Troncal Las Maicas toll plaza. The Carabineros reached the site at around 6 AM to check the burnt vehicles that drivers were forced to abandon.

It was reported recently that the Territorial Resistance Organization (ORT) has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Fire in a health center in Pidima

In the early hours of Saturday morning July 10, a fire broke out in the town of Pidima, in the Araucanía Region, which affected a health center that provided services in the town.

According to the first reports, at around 7:20 AM, a group of hooded men in two pick-up trucks interrupted traffic at kilometer 581 on Ruta 5 Sur, setting up roadblocks. After setting fire to this area, the group proceeded to the health facility and burned it to the ground.

Carabineros deployed to protect the Centenario Estate, located at kilometer 1 of Route R-400, reached the site during the arson, but were unable to fend off the criminals, as they were shot at. “No carabineros or civilians were injured. Nor are there any detainees or statements alluding to any cause,” the police said.

16 trucks burned in Cañete

On Monday another attack was registered in the sector of Cañete, in the Bío Bío Region, which left 16 trucks torched. A group of armed individuals reached the El Hualle farm belonging to Arauco Forestry.

Upon reaching the farm, workers noticed an unknown group of individuals carrying military grade weapons who then proceeded to threaten everyone on the premises before burning the machinery.

A pamphlet alluding to the death of Pablo Marchant was found at the scene, while the governor of the province of Arauco, Óscar Marchant, repudiated the attack and emphasized that in Chile there are no political prisoners.

Source: Infobae