Original article: Diputado Araya le enrostra al gobierno alza de 42,3% en homicidios: “El país volvió a perder el control de la seguridad”
Deputy Jaime Araya (Independent-PPD) directly confronted the government of José Antonio Kast regarding the 42.3% surge in homicides and warned that «the country has lost control of security».
Referring to the latest figures from the Tactical Police Operations System (STOP) of Carabineros de Chile, the parliamentarian from Antofagasta region noted that the number of homicides increased by 13.3% just last week, while in the past 28 days, it has accumulated a staggering 42.3% increase.
“According to the official STOP figures from Carabineros, homicides have skyrocketed by 42.3%. When comparing the last 28 days, which fall squarely within this government’s term, we see a dramatic rise (…) this is a state issue,” he remarked in statements to Mega.
In light of this situation, Araya sent a letter to Minister of Security Trinidad, urging her to call a joint session of the Security Commissions from both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate to discuss “what measures will be taken, which will be reinforced, and why the country has lost control of security once again.”
“I am not going to follow the Republican Party’s example by pursuing constitutional charges against the Minister of Security, as they did with Carolina Tohá. This is a matter that requires us to sit down and evaluate what was done well in the previous government, which allowed for the stabilization of homicide rates; what has been neglected in this confusion where the Ministry of Security has dismissed the head of intelligence at the PDI (Consuelo Peña), and whether she had the authority for her position,” he stated.
“What is happening here is exactly what we have always said; organized crime does not have a political agenda, it does not care about the political affiliation of the government; they continue their criminal operations, and this has accelerated significantly, as shown by the data on the STOP website,” he emphasized.
Araya: «We Expected Much More from a Government That Presented Itself as an Expert in Security»
In an interview with CNN Chile, the deputy stressed the importance of providing clear answers and reassurances to the public, anticipating that Minister Steinert would quickly call Congress committees to outline what actions will be taken and what support she requires from lawmakers «to establish a robust agenda to combat homicide and bring the rates back down again.»
«We cannot allow homicide rates to skyrocket again,» Araya warned in a social media message accompanied by Carabineros’ statistics.
He questioned the timing of this increase, which coincides with José Antonio Kast’s assumption of the presidency, especially since he promised during his electoral campaign that his administration would «generate order, security, and confidence.»
“We expected much more from a government that presented itself as an expert in security,» Araya noted.
However, he made it clear that «this is not a time for petty disputes,» as «organized crime is advancing, and there is no room for improvisation today.»
“It is essential to review what worked, correct mistakes, and act decisively to halt this wave of homicides,” he asserted.
