Chilean soldiers monitor the border on February 27 to protect and control the irregular entry of migrants into the Colchane commune, in the Tarapacá region (Chile).Alex Díaz (EFE)
The Chilean Armed Forces (FF AA) began deployment in three regions of the northern macro-zone of the country, on the border with Bolivia and Peru, to provide support for control and public order in the face of the irregular migration and security crisis that that region is experiencing. country area.
The operation will last 90 days and the uniformed officers, in accordance with the critical infrastructure law that was approved a month ago by Congress, will be able to perform three functions: identity checks, baggage inspection in case there is an element that indicates the commission of a crime and arrest of people, who will be referred to the police, if they enter without identification papers or if they are committing an illegal act.
The implementation of the measure was announced last week by the government of President Gabriel Boric and contemplates the military deployment in the regions of Arica, Parinacota, Tarapacá and Antofagasta.
These are areas that have also shown an increase in crimes associated with people, arms and drug trafficking.
In the case of Tarapacá, it is also the place in Chile that has the highest number of homicides in the country associated with organized crime, which is why the national prosecutor, Ángel Valencia, recently appointed a special prosecutor to investigate 20 high-profile crimes. complexity.
On January 26, the Chilean Congress, after a strong debate, approved the protection of critical infrastructure, which incorporates the attribution of the President of the Republic to provide that the Armed Forces can carry out protection tasks "in case of serious danger or imminent”, which also includes the protection of border areas.
In addition, through the issuance of a decree with the force of law, the powers and duties of the FF are regulated.
AA., which can be renewed for 90 days when the effectiveness is evaluated.
“Deterrent effect”
The role of the FF.
AA.
in the northern macro-zone it has caused several frictions between the ruling party and the opposition, mainly over the powers they have regarding the use of force.
“There is a type of controversy that has been tried to generate that is perfectly useless and very irresponsible, which is to generate the idea that this would be more effective if the military could shoot at anything on the border.
That is not the case, that does not protect the Chilean people or the military,” said Interior Minister Carolina Tohá.
“Obviously the force has to be used in a discreet way, it is not useful for anything, but there are situations where it is evident that it must be used.
For example, if there is a threat to the lives of military personnel or a third person," she added.
The minister specified the three functions that the Army will fulfill: “If you surprise people circulating who could have entered irregularly or are committing a crime, carry out an identity check.
Secondly, if you see signs of any crime, search the luggage and thirdly, if you discover any irregularities or faults, such as drugs, weapons or signs of human trafficking in the luggage, then arrest those people and refer to the police”.
Tohá traveled this February 27 from Santiago to Tarapacá to supervise the first deployment actions of the uniformed officers.
He was in Colchane, a commune located about 1,900 kilometers from Santiago that, since 2020, has become the symbol of irregular steps.
“What should start to happen is that there is less irregular movement across the border.
Hopefully that is the result of this, that it has a dissuasive effect for people to go to the authorized borders and, if someone wants to enter our country, do so where they should be”, said Tohá.
And he added: “The vast majority of people who migrate come to work to rebuild their lives because there is a tragic situation in their countries, but in between, they take advantage of bringing a criminal agenda and bringing organized crime practices or other practices to the country. type of crimes”.
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