by Emilee Gaebler
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America 

SANTIAGO, Chile – Throughout much of the Bio Bio region and Araucania region deadly forest fires have raged for the past few weeks.  The area, roughly 500 miles south of the capital of Santiago, has been destroyed by the fires that have burned down hundreds of homes and caused thousands of evacuations.

 

Until recently, the only casualty in the deadly fires was that of an elderly manwho refused to evacuate his home, despite repeated appeals to leave.  On Thursday January 5, 2012 seven firefighters were killed in the line of duty.  The men were working in a mountain forest near Carahue in the Araucania region.  They were trapped by the fire when the high wind unexpectedly changed direction.

Ten men in total were placed in danger that day.  Two of the men were rescued by helicopters and suffered intense burns.  A single man, Hector Herrera managed to escape on his own. 

“When I wanted to leave, I was unable to do so, I went back and there was fire everywhere. My only option was to go to the canteen and soak myself in water and then go through the flames,” said Herrera to local media.

The men were private contractors for a forestry company, Mininco.  Reports have surfaced that none of the men were experienced in fire-fighting.  The forestry worker’s union blames Mininco for the seven deaths; citing inexperience, poor training and failure to properly supervise workers in dangerous conditions.

Early in the investigation, authorities blamed arsonists for starting the fires.  Several fires began almost simultaneously in multiple areas; a clear indication that some type of foul play was involved.  Following confirmation of the seven firefighter’s deaths, Chilean president Sebastián Piñera was quick to note the “criminal intent” present and that the fires were under consideration as having a “terrorist nature.”

Interior Minister, Rodrigo Hinzpeter, followed this with accusations that the Coordinadora Arauco-Malleco (CAM) group was responsible.  CAM is a Mapuche Indian activist group.  The group forcibly advocates for reinstatement of ancient tribal lands.  Allegedly, the disputed land, in the Araucania region, was illegally taken from the Mapuche people both in the early 19^th century pacification campaign and by the Pinochet dictatorship of the 1970s. 

Hinzpeter based his conclusion on the acknowledgement by CAM that activists had burned a Mininco helicopter and other forestry vehicles on December 30, right before the fires began. 

CAM leaders have denied any role in the fires at all.  They do admit to the burning of the Mininco helicopter, which they viewed as operating illegally on Indian lands.  It appears to have been a strategic move in the enduring dispute between the forestry company and the activists. 

“In the face of accusations issued by persons from the current government and right-wing members of Parliament, we say — emphatically — that the CAM had nothing to do with events that occurred at the House of Stone estate in Carahue,” was the statement released by the group.

A Mapuche spokesman, Natividad Llanquileo, also expressed the grief felt by the tribe not only for the seven deaths but also for the destruction of “mothe earth” by the deadly fires.

Locals in the area have theorized that the fires were started accidentally in the process of burning wood to make charcoal.  Hector Rebolledo, a fire chief, stated that people were seen making charcoal in the area right before the fires broke out. 

In the aftermath of this, President Piñera has invoked strong anti-terrorist laws to punish those responsible.  These anti-terror laws stem from the Pinochet era and are frighteningly restrictive on justice.  They allow for steeper punishments, indefinite imprisonment without being charged and testimony from anonymous witnesses. 

Prosecutors are permitted to keep their evidence secret, are more readily granted the power to monitor suspect’s activities (tapping phones, placing wires and intercepting communications) and can detain suspects for up to 10 days without bringing any charges.      

“The law will continue to be applied whenever necessary to fight this small group of people who, without respect for life or property, seek to impose their views through terror,” said Piñera in support of the laws. 

One of CAM’s leaders, currently serving time in jail for assaulting a prosecutor, said the whole situation was simply a set-up to allow for implementation of the anti-terror laws.  The statement notes that these laws are a valuable tool being used by the government to dismantle not just the Mapuche people’s movement but Chilean social movements in general.

In fact, just days after the anti- terror laws were enacted; a fire was started at a local Mapuche chief’s home, destroying it.  Then, a Mapuche woman and her daughter were cruelly beaten by police officers during their arrest for disturbing the peace. 

As reported by the Latin American Herald Tribune, a cell phone video shows an officer striking one of the women with the butt of his gun as she holds a child in her arms.  He then points his gun at her head and pulls the trigger back before walking away.  The other woman was “roughed up” by the other officers. 

Both women were released from jail and an investigation into the events of their arrest has been initiated.  As well, Hinzpeter is now denying making direct statements blaming the Mapuche Indians for the fires.  His sudden reversal comes after much criticism and an order from the Court of Appeals to clarify the statements he made earlier this month. 

 

For more information, please see:

Latin American Herald Tribune – Chilean Cops Under Scrutiny for Beating of Indian Women – 19 Jan 2012

Latin American Herald Tribune – Indian Activists Deny Setting Deadly Blaze in Chile – 19 Jan 2012

Santiago Times – Chilean Minister Backs Down on Indigenous Arsonist Claims – 19 Jan 2012

Indian Country – Chile Invokes Chilling Anti-Terrorist Law Against Indigenous Mapuche – 11 Jan 2012

Asia One News – Chile Invokes Terror Law After “Deadly Criminal” Wildfire – 6 Jan 2012

BBC – Chile Blames Mapuche Indians for Deadly Forest Fires – 6 Jan 2012

Google  – Chile’s Mapuche Denies Role in Deadly Arson – 6 Jan 2012

Times Union – Chile Blames Deadly Fires on Mapuche Indian Terror – 6 Jan 2012