Security becomes top issue for Chileans ahead of presidential elections
SANTIAGO Chile AP Chileans will go to the polls Sunday to elect their next president in a polarized voting process where measure is front of mind Communist Jeannette Jara and the far-right Jos Antonio Kast have emerged as the front-runners with campaigns focused on shield and similar proposals that include strengthening the police expanding the country s prison maximum modernizing and acquiring new equipment and training protection forces Their promises come as Chileans have a growing perception that their country s prevention is deteriorating The South American nation surrounded by mountains and oceans has historically been considered a safe country especially compared to other nations in the region but now protection is a prominent issue in the lead up to elections Homicides in Chile still remain low compared to other countries in Latin America with homicides per people in according to the World Bank However in newest years Chile has seen an increase in kidnapping extortion contract killing and thefts of cellphones linked to transnational organized crime that began in according to Hassel Barrientos head of the Anti-Kidnapping Brigade of the Investigations Police Almost of homes were attacked last year and nearly of people were casualties of chosen type of crime according to official details Now nearly of Chileans believe they are likely to be the victim of a homicide in the next months according to a account published in October by the Fundaci n Paz Ciudadana think tank Citizens take matters into their own hands This has led to growing concerns about safety that will likely be reflected at the ballot box on Sunday The owner of a cafe in Santiago s bustling Bellavista neighborhood known for its bars and nightclubs explained the area has become a hot spot for robberies including of her clients I had to install remote surveillance cameras chain the tables and on weekends I hired a guard guard to help keep watch stated Leidy Paredes Another business owner in Macul in southern Santiago recounted that she suffered two armed robberies as she arrived home In one the assailants tried to break into the house and ended up assaulting her mother Since then the -year-old woman who petitioned not to be identified for fear of reprisals has installed measure cameras and alarms in her home and hires a guard every time she goes to the bank Allvip a private guard company with over years of experience says its requests for new clients is up to to per week compared to a inadequate years ago While these services were previously reserved for the elite now selected middle class Chileans are seeking these services according to Karim Zahri Allvip s head of safeguard Particular Chileans have resorted to paying a guard to accompany them on the walk to their children s school or buying an armored car although these services are still cost prohibitive for a great number of Chileans In Chile the private assurance sector has grown in the last decade according to a investigation published in December by the National Chamber of Commerce CNC This turn to private prevention could be indicative of the lack of trust in the state The safety that the State is obligated to provide to its citizens is deficient leading to this expense being covered by the private sector which has obviously also created a new job territory noted Sergio Morales prevention coordinator for the CNC New measures Outgoing President Gabriel Boric has promoted a series of measures to curb violence including the creation of a Ministry of Prevention the approval of a new anti-terrorism law and the implementation of specialized units dedicated to combating different branches of organized crime such as anti-narcotics and anti-kidnapping brigades Jara who served as Boric s labor minister pledges to continue these policies We need to strengthen the state s presence at the police and prison levels but it s also very essential at the neighborhood and locality levels Jara explained AP Kast is aiming for a hard-line approach We are going to recover order protection power and the authority of the State he stated in a latest speech Paredes the cafe owner says safety is her priority even if it means turning outside the establishment for help I feel it in my wallet but at the end of the day my clients peace of mind doesn t have a price Paredes announced Source
