The Association of Municipalities of Chile (Amuch) next to the Confederation of Production and Commerce (CPC) held their first joint security seminar, called «Chile fights organized crime»which was attended by various authorities and personalities from the private sector.
The day took place within the framework of the combat illegal trade and smuggling, where data from a CPC survey was shared that revealed that in places where illegal trade exists, victimization rates are higher.
«Today we are losing the battle and the war against crime. Today where we deal with illegal trade, We unite public institutions with the private sector, businessmen, and we can work togetherbecause Where there is illegal trade there is crime, there is micro-trafficking, drug trafficking and organized crime.. And until when do we expect legislation to be legislated, work to be done, because we cannot continue allowing criminals to continue winning over us,» said President Amuch and mayor of Zapallar, Gustavo Alessandri (UDI).
Among the data, a study of the MIDE Center of the Catholic University in which it was revealed that one of every two packs consumed in Chile is smuggled: 49% of cigarettes sold are illegal; an increase of 12 percentage points compared to the previous year.
The activity was attended by the Undersecretary of the Interior, Manuel Monsalvewho shared crime data and the Government’s focuses to confront them.
Specifically, he pointed out that the 54% of homicides are committed with firearms; Homicides with unknown perpetrators have increased, and the types of crimes have diversified. For example, 826 kidnappings were committed during 2022, according to data from the Public Ministry
«Not only Chile is in the presence of a pandemic regarding organized crime and this implies that it is not a threat that affects a country or a continent, but rather it is a threat that affects countries on all continents of the world,» said the undersecretary.
In that sense, he declared that «This threat must be faced as a priority by the States.and that is why I have reiterated here that This threat is faced with State policies, not only with Government policies.. That is, she faces major national agreements, and these agreements and institutions will serve Chileans for their security in this Government and in the next. That is the priority of the Government of President Gabriel Boric.»
These data are released while the bill is being discussed in the Lower House. Rules for the Use of Force. Discussion that some suggest should be quick to give a resolution to the request of some community leaders to deploy the military in order to protect citizens.
However, during the day this Wednesday the deputies of the united commissions of Constitution and Security sThey suspended the session and asked the Undersecretary of Defense, Ricardo Montero, to leave the room because the opposition requests that the Armed Forces attend again to give their technical opinion on the project.
Deputy Jorge Alessandri (UDI) He said in this regard that «yesterday the Government wanted us to advance in the Law on Rules for the Use of Force approving the first articles without listening to the Armed Forces, that is, without listening to those who are going to use force. Obviously Congress spends its time on other laws and other issues, (listening to) thousands of experts. At the moment, Not listening to the Armed Forces seemed like a mistake to us and that is why the session ended up being suspended.«.
However, since The ruling party postulates that the presence of representatives of the Army is not necessary, because that role is fulfilled by the Ministry of Defense.
«The Armed Forces, if you want to count on them to help with security, to provide care, to perform critical functions, you must give them a legal framework and support that allows them to act. I get a little lost when I insist on whether or not the Armed Forces have to go and say what they think, because that is why they are represented by the Ministry of Defense.«said the senator Ricardo Lagos Weber (PPD).