MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Growing insecurity in Chile.

Chilean authorities publicly expressed their concern with the growing number of robberies and violent crimes as described in an official Ministry of Interior (Home Secretary) report.

The report indicates that during the first quarter of 2003 the number of violent crimes reported increased 36,2% compared to the same period a year ago.

Minister of Interior Jose Miguel Insulza admitted the "seriousness" of the situation in spite of the intensification of police controls because "when we have these numbers of delinquency acts, there's no way we can feel satisfied with our job".

Major crimes in Chile such as armed robberies, kidnapping, mugging, rape and homicides increased 11,02% between January-March 2003 over the first Q. of 2002.

A non government organization, Citizens Peace Foundation that regularly monitors the level of crimes in Chile said it was concerned with it was concerned with the government report since it confirms "we're in the same ascending tendency we have seen for the last few years".

Mr. Gonzalo Vargas, spokesperson for the Citizens Peace Foundation reiterated a recent report from the organization warning that Chile runs the serious risk of not being any longer a secure country, "if the growth rate of crime persists at its present level, 66% increase in the last five years".

Actually Mr. Insulza is among the worst rated cabinet ministers because of growing crime and the extended feeling of insecurity among Chilean citizens. He shares the "privilege" with the Public Health and Economy ministers.

An opinion poll from Santiago's main daily newspaper El Mercurio indicates that Chilean public opinion priorities are growing crime and unemployment.

El Mercurio which is rather conservative contracted the opinion poll following the Chilean Executive announcement that the government priorities for the next six months are human rights, constitutional reform and the divorce law.

Human rights refer to the thousands of killings, torturing and kidnapping under the dictatorial regime of former president Pinochet, most of which remain unsolved. General Pinochet was the leader of a bloody military coup thirty years ago next September.

Constitutional reforms are a concerted effort with the Congressional opposition to eliminate the institutionalized political influence of the military; total submission of the Armed Forces to civilian rule; ending with for life senators who can block major decisions and changes to the electoral system.