Carabineros de Chile, the controversial police force that focuses political debate

The future of the controversial body of carabinieri of Chilimilitarized police involved in scandals of corruption and human rights violationis a permanent point of conflict between the coalition of Governmentwhich is committed to reforming the institution, and the conservative opposition that puts obstacles to it.

A pulse that has been placed again this week at the center of the political debate after the death in just fifteen days of two agents in routine procedures, and despite the fact that the president, Gabriel Boric, asked the parties to avoid politicizing security, the main concern of the Chileans.

The rise in controversy has also coincided with the publication on Tuesday of Amnesty International’s annual report, in which the organization for the defense of human rights described as “worrying” the lack of progress in the aforementioned body reform, one of the president’s campaign promises.

In this tense context, Congress agreed on Monday to approve this week seven security projects, “hot legislation” -according to international experts- promoted by Juan Antonio Coloma, president of the Senate and member of the Unión Democrática Independiente (UDI), an ultra-conservative party founded during the dictatorship.

loss of prestige

Carabineros was for decades one of the most prestigious institutions in Chile, but in recent years it has lost ground due to corruption and allegations of excessive use of force.

The first mass objections to his methods arose in 2015, after a policeman left student Rodrigo Avilés in a coma by throwing water at him from an armored truck during a demonstration for the right to education in Valparaíso.

A year later the call exploded “Pacogate”, in an allusion to the colloquial name (“paco”) with which the Chilean police are known, considered the biggest fraud in the country’s history and which has more than 130 people charged, including former high-ranking officers.

The discredit reached its peak during the 2019 riots that left more than thirty dead and thousands injured and complaints against the uniformed corps by “widespread violations” to human rights by the United Nations and other international organizations.

Among those who questioned the repression of those popular demonstrations was the then deputy Boric and some of the members who would later make up his Government, a situation that the UDI reminded him of on Monday, in full legislative debate, demanding once again that they apologize to the armed institution for its criticism.

Right Deployment:

One of the main points of parliamentary controversy is the opposition’s insistence that an expanded presumption of self-defense for police officers be maintained when they respond to attacks.

This is the so-called Retamal Law, in memory of agent Carlos Retamal, who died in October 2022 from an assault during a procedure against a clandestine race, a measure that bothers part of the government coalition.

“The pertinent modifications must be made so that the rule of law is respected (…) that the indications protect Carabineros, are effective and at the same time respect due process”said Deputy Diego Ibáñez, president of Social Convergence, the president’s party.

In response, the mayoress of Providencia, Evelyn Matthei, one of the most influential faces of the UDI and the opposition, daughter of a military Minister of Health of the dictator Augusto Pinochet and member of the military coup junta that led the country between 1973 and 1990, insisted that the principle of proportionality cannot be accepted.

“If there is an error, if there is a problem, it will go to court, but the Carabineros must be given the benefit of the doubt and not the drug traffickers”said the mayor in an interview on Tuesday.

“If there were problems of human rights violations, it was indeed because they had no way of defending themselves”he added in reference to 2019 in some controversial statements.

The populist-tinged strategy has been joined by other ultra-conservative faces, such as the mayor of the capital’s La Florida commune, Rodolfo Carter, ex-UDI, promoter of a policy of demolition of so-called “narco-houses” challenged by the prosecution.

A Prosecutor’s Office that, like Matthei, Carter accuses of “pursuing the Carabineros instead of criminals”, and of undermining the authority of the agents.

In response, the ruling party reminds the opposition coalition Chile Vamos that it so rejected the budget of the Ministry of the Interior, which increased by a 4.4% the public security item, such as the tax reform, which seeks to increase resources for the body.

Also, that in recent months he has preferred to leave the security table promoted by the Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá, for political reasons.

Source: EFE