2023-05-01 12:00:19
This Monday, when a new Labor Daythe channel Victory Sign 3 live a special moment. One year has passed since one of his collaborators, the journalist Francisca Sandoval, was seriously injured in the head by a shot. Shot that 12 days later caused his death.
Francisca was covering the different commemorative activities for May 1 in the center of the capital, in particular one of the demonstrations that diverted to the Meiggs neighborhood, in the Metropolitan Region. In that place, a group of protesters took part of tents or blue awnings from street vendors to create barrels against Carabineros.
At that moment, around noon, the merchants themselves joined the violent events. It was at that moment that Marcelo Naranjo Naranjo fired the shot that mortally wounded Francisca. Two other people were wounded by bullets that day, for which reason Sebastián Aguilera Gutiérrez was also arrested in February of this year.
After the serious incident, different irregularities were revealed. First, the unleashed presence of street trade in Barrio Meiggswho had taken over the sidewalks and streets of one of the busiest sectors of the capital.
Likewise, the existence of a alleged armed protection network for the street vendors themselvesin which Marcelo Naranjo would have participated and which has been denounced by former tenants of the place.
Intervention in Barrio Meiggs
Francisca Sandoval died on May 12, 12 days after being shot in the head, impact that left a hole in the gas mask that he used to cover himself during the march called by the Central Clasista de Trabajadores.
The Señal 3 de La Victoria channel reported the death of Francisca Sandoval and assured, via social networks, that “Francisca did not leave us. They murdered her. Through these words we confirm the passing of our dear Fran. We will miss you and we will do everything we can to find the truth.”
Four days later, a police operation began to takeover in Barrio Meiggswith the permanent presence of Carabineros, and with a follow-up to the evicted street vendors, in order to prevent them from settling in other streets of the neighborhood or nearby commercial sectors.
The measure had an immediate effectspaces were freed that for years had been kidnapped by an irregular trade, which did not pay taxes and directly harmed tenants and merchants who pay their contributions every month.
In addition, the strategy worked for the police, at least for the first few months. In August 2022, three months after the murder of Francisca, Carabineros reported a decrease in the most common crimes in the area.
According to the information provided, from January 1 to May 2022, the most common violation of the law was simple theft (123 acts), followed by surprise robbery (120) and minor simple theft.
Meanwhile, after the intervention carried out in the popular neighborhood, between July 21 and August 11, 31 crimes have been reported, where simple theft and minor injuries are among the most committed acts.
Finally, before the intervention, the Carabineros registered a total of 452 crimes of greater social connotation in relation to the months of January to May. After his intervention, these were reduced to 67 from May to July and finally to 31 since the last report (executed between July 21 and August 11), representing a significant decrease in crimes of greater social connotation in a total of 93%.
Strategy that with the passing of the months stopped being effective, since irregular trade sought a way to bypass the control. Moreover, in November 2022, precisely the presence of street vendors complicated the work of firefighters to put out a fire that affected a commercial location in the Meiggs neighborhood.
It is even common to see publications on social networks that show how blue awnings, and other colors, continue to take over the streets and sidewalks, hindering pedestrian traffic and harming established commerce.
Francisca Sandoval in search of justice
Two days after Francisca Sandoval, a journalist for Señal 3 in La Victoria, was seriously wounded with a shot, Marcelo Naranjo was arrested as the main suspect in the attack. Images from security cameras managed to identify the man.
However, one year after the incident, the truth about the real person responsible or if Naranjo is to blame for Francisca’s death, is not close to being known. On April 11, the Prosecutor’s Office asked to extend the term to investigate the homicide, since there are pending proceedings that do not allow the public prosecutor to close the investigation on the date that the established judicial term expires.
The 7th Guarantee Court of Santiago set the hearing for May 9, extending the preventive detention in which Naranjo is, and thus postponing justice for Francisca Sandoval, her family and loved ones. For them, May 1 will no longer be Labor Day, it will be the day a bullet took Francisca’s life.
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