Terrorism in Chile

Terrorism in Chile has occurred since the 1980s and continues until the present. A number of bombings targeted public places, such as subway stations, as well as commercial institutions and interests, such as banks and ATMs. State sponsored terrorism also occurred under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet which lasted from 1973 to 1990.

Terrorism by context

Santiago bombings

Further information: Chile bombings from 2005 and 2014 Santiago subway bombing

At the end of the military regime in 1986, a bomb exploded in the Tobalaba station in Santiago, Chile, killing one person and injuring seven others.[1]

Over 200 individual bombings occurred from 2005 to 2014, over eighty groups claimed responsibility, however, authorities were not sure if it was multiple groups, related splinter cells or a single group which changed names. The names were changed to obie.[2]

On 8 September 2014, a bombing occurred at the Escuela Militar metro station in Santiago, Chile. Fourteen people were injured, several seriously. No group has claimed responsibility, however, the attacks have been attributed to a Chilean Anarchist group, the Conspiracy of Cells of Fire (Chile).[3]

On May 2, 2018 Members of Carabineros de Chile and the Fiscalía sur investigate an improvised explosive device abandoned in the metropolitan area of Santiago. The explosive did not explode and was destroyed by members of the anti-explosive unit. The group Individualistas Tendiendo a los Salvaje claim responsibility for this and other bombs that didn't detonate.[4]

State sponsored terrorism

Main article: Human rights violations in Pinochet's Chile

From 1973 to 1990, Chile was governed by the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Under Pinochet's rule, political repression and state terrorism was committed by the Chilean armed forces, the Police, government agents and civilians in the service of security agencies.[5]

Araucanía and Mapuche

There has been a debate on whether some attacks linked to the Mapuche conflict in southern Chile constitute terrorism or not. These attacks, typically arson, concentrate in Araucanía Region but have also occurred in neighboring Bío Bío and Los Ríos Region. The conflict arises, among other issues, from land rights and the resulting clash between indigenous people and private development projects.[6]

Responses and counterterrorism efforts

Pinochet anti-terror laws

During the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile, an anti-terror law was enacted which allows suspects to be held in isolation without charges. The law also permits the use of phone taps and secret witnesses in investigations. This anti-terror law is currently in use by the government in its response to bombing attacks.[7]

Criticism

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has criticized the Chilean government for inappropriately using anti-terrorist legislation against indigenous (Mapuche) groups involved in land conflicts. While recognizing that crimes have certainly been committed, HRW believes that they are not comparable to terrorist acts.[8]

See also

• Crime in Chile

References

1. "Chile Shaken by Worst Attack in 30 Years." The Latin American Times. Accessed January 30, 2015.
2. BBC News: Chileans baffled by persistent bomb attack, 20 August 2014s
3. "Chile Investigates Terrorist Ties to Man Killed by Another Bomb on Santiago's Streets". Retrieved 26 September 2014.
4. "Investigan supuesta reaparición de grupo "eco-terrorista" tras atentado a Landerretche (In Spanish)". Bio Bio Chile. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
5. Thomas Skidmore, Modern Latin America, Oxford University Press., 2004, p. 134.
6. https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/al-menos-19-camiones-incendiados-biobio-y-araucania
7. "New anti-terror law invoked in Chile after bomb injures 14." The Globe and Mail. Sep. 8, 2014.
8. "Chile: Undue Process". Retrieved 2008-08-28.