The incident occurred around 6:00 a.m., when La Radio auditors reported the blockade on Route 16, which connects Iquique and Alto Hospicio. This situation was triggered by the high homicide rates recorded in the area in recent days.
This Monday morning a group of people lit barricades in the sector of the El Pampino slope from the commune of Alto Hospicio, in the Tarapacá region.
The fact was reported by auditors to Radio Bío Bío, around 06:00 hoursin the connection of route 16 that joins Alto Hospicio and Iquique.
According to what was pointed out by the people who took this sector of the route, The purpose of blocking the highway is to publicize the urgency that requires increasing security in the commune.
The foregoing, as a result of the high numbers of homicides registered so far in 2023. Specifically, 11 homicides in 30 days.
Let’s remember that Alto Hospicio was the commune in the country with the highest homicide rate during 2022, with 20 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants.
[ALTO HOSPICIO]
6:00 | They set up barricades down Route 16 towards #Iquique. Connection is blocked by manifestations above and below level. March is scheduled for 10 am… @biobio pic.twitter.com/sAnzXO7gOW— Cristián Nuñez Fica (@HombredeRadio) January 30, 2023
Alto Hospicio: roadblock and scheduled mobilization due to homicides
Among the slogans indicated by those mobilized on Route 16, They summoned the government and regional authorities and the mayor of the commune, demanding concrete measures and addressing the serious situation of insecurity.
This demonstration takes place prior to the start of the mobilization scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on the same day. Likewise, this was convened as a result of two homicides registered last weekend, where a woman lost her life while she was with her partner in a viewpoint, after resisting handing over her cell phone when she was robbed.
Partial blockades on the descent of the second access from Alto Hospicio to #Iquique. Protesters along with the father of the young man murdered a few days ago, are located on the highway… @biobio pic.twitter.com/uCOGW63Kb9
— Cristián Nuñez Fica (@HombredeRadio) January 30, 2023
It is worth mentioning that, after learning of this crime, the mayor of Alto Hospicio, Patricio Ferreira, reported the suspension of scheduled summer activities until further notice. In addition, he called on the Government to firmly confront and stop these crimes.
On the other hand, in hours of the night of yesterday, Sunday, cacerolazos were also carried out as a form of protest against the high numbers of homicides that have been registered in the first month of 2023.
[ALTO HOSPICIO]
Cacerolazo of neighbors in different towns, prior to the march that will take place this Monday until #Iquique. Demonstrations aim to make visible the situation of insecurity in the commune… @biobio pic.twitter.com/RCk1mAypdh— Cristián Nuñez Fica (@HombredeRadio) January 30, 2023