On 10 August, Chile’s Interior Minister Víctor Pérez met with representatives from lorry drivers’ unions, some of whom are threatening strikes unless the government takes action to prevent arson attacks on lorries by Mapuche indigenous activists.
Analysis:
The government led by President Sebastián Piñera will be keen to avoid a strike which would exacerbate the already dire economic situation, but it must also walk a fine line to avoid further aggravating tensions with the Mapuche. After a flare-up in the long-running conflict earlier this month, the government is facing competing calls for a tougher crackdown on Mapuche insurgents from lorry drivers and local businesses on the one hand and appeals for dialogue from indigenous organisations and the United Nations on the other.
- The Confederación Nacional de Dueños de Camiones de Chile (CNDC) union released a statement after the meeting saying that it is the government’s responsibility to confront “extremist groups that burn lorries and shoot at drivers”, and warned that “if attacks on our drivers persist, it will not be possible to continue with the supply of goods” . Pressure from unions has increased since the death of Juan Barrios, a lorry driver who died in March following injuries sustained in an arson attack.
- The CNDC, however, is not threatening a strike, unlike the Federación de Dueños de Camiones del Sur (Fedesur) union, which also met with Pérez.
- Pérez criticised those calling for a strike, whilst acknowledging the difficulty of resolving the decades-long tensions between the Mapuche and the authorities. “We want to be very clear that we don’t see ultimatums as the way forward. There is no easy solution to these issues and the problems won’t be resolved overnight”, the minister said.
- Pérez suggested that strike action would only encourage more arson attacks. “Saying ‘one more lorry [attack] and we’re going on strike’ is practically an incentive to burn another lorry”, he said.
- Yesterday saw yet another spate of arson attacks in La Araucanía Region, with three heavy vehicles set alight in the municipality of Angol.
Looking Ahead: The stakes are further raised by a reported deterioration in the health of Mapuche prisoner Celestino Córdova, who has now been on hunger strike for 100 days. Hunger strikes by Córdova and other Mapuche prisoners were a major catalyst in the recent arson attacks on government buildings.