Chile’s president, Gabriel Boric, last week announced “a constitutional reform project” which seeks to resolve ongoing conflicts between the state, extractive companies, and indigenous communities.
The project will be carried out in line with recommendations proposed by the Commission for Peace and Understanding, which was created in June 2023 with the goal of resolving land and territorial disputes affecting the Mapuche people.
The Mapuche people represent Chile’s biggest indigenous community.
The commission consulted more than 5,000 people from the regions of Bío Bío, La Araucanía, Los Ríos, and Los Lagos. Among them were representatives of Mapuche communities, victims of violence, businesses, political parties, and international organizations, according to Mercopress.
The announcement was made Thursday, May 22 at La Moneda Palace in Santiago.
Boric stated that the conflicts can be resolved “with the tools of democracy and good politics,” according to EFE. He added that the report compiled by the commission offers “a unique, one-off opportunity to achieve peace.”
He explained that the commission found Chile’s current indigenous land framework to be “deficient” and “one of the main factors exacerbating the conflict.”
Boric’s government will now introduce a new framework, which he says will offer “a definite end to the land issue.” The system will be introduced after consultation with Mapuche communities in the second half of the year, in line with Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization.
The government also accepted the commission’s recommendation to recognize indigenous communities in the constitution. Boric’s government will therefore propose a constitutional amendment to Congress, despite the fact it does not hold a parliamentary majority.
The Chilean president also announced the foundation of a “high-ranking” indigenous affairs body, as well as economic recovery plans for the provinces of Arauco and Malleco, which have been significantly affected by rural violence.
“A country that respects diversity, recognizes the peoples that constitute it, and categorically rejects violence is a better country for all,” Boric said.
He also pledged: “We will strengthen the support program for victims of rural violence to offer ongoing help, including psychosocial care, and we will present a comprehensive reparation initiative to Congress.”
The conflict between the state, extractive companies, and Mapuche communities has been a longstanding issue. The commission found that, between 2013 and 2024, 60 people died as a result of the violence. 1,468 injuries have been reported in the same time frame, in addition to 8,926 acts of violence.
Featured image credit:
Image: Mapuche flag
Photographer: John Englart
Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/takver/49150281371
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en
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