Southern farmers speak out against attacks, giving the impression that the government does not act on these issues

SANTIAGO.- The president of the Temuco Society for Agricultural Development (SFA), Gastón Caminondo, has voiced harsh criticism concerning the manner in which the government has dealt with the arson attacks allegedly carried out by Mapuche activists in the La Araucanía Region.

The criticism stems from the latest attack, which befell farmer Eduardo Luchisinguer early Sunday morning in Vilcún, when twelve hooded individuals (allegedly Mapuche activists belonging to Coordinadora Arauco Malleco- “CAM”) set fire the Santa Rosa ranch, causing $500 million pesos worth of damage.

Caminondo stated that, faced with the situation, the government is stuck “between a rock and a hard place”.  On one hand the government wants to or even tries to take action, but when they have the information needed to make the arrests, “it seems like they don’t act” he expressed.

The SFA leader also asserted that the attacks that have taken place in the area are not isolated events and claims that those responsible are behaving like terrorist groups.  “We have to call them out by name once and for all and not let them slip below the radar, as if they were petty criminals”, Caminondo stressed.