Looting after Chile’s Earthquake: Why?
BBC. – Chile’s president has appealed for calm in the earthquake-ravaged city of Concepcion, vowing a stern response to any renewal of looting and violence. Michelle Bachelet says 14,000 troops are now in the region, after dozens of people were arrested on Monday. A BBC reporter in Concepcion says police are now posted on street corners in the city centre, but says that aid convoys are yet to reach the needy. The death toll from the 8.8-magnitude quake now stands at 795, officials say.
Chile is a well-known country in terms of natural disasters. Also the “sense of solidarity” of Chileans in this sort of situation represents for us something close to be called a national proud.
But, what is happening after the 8.8-magnitude quake in Chile? An overwhelming sensation over the whole population is installed. Dozens of images from the devastated city of Concepcion and terrible information from other damaged cities confirm that looting and violence are taking control over the destroyed cities, threatening the security of the people.
Why this effect in the population is happening? Are there such lacks of food and supplies that people desperate need to do this? Or might be another reasons, rather than the evident?
I think there are two main factors playing in this situation. One is structural and the other is functional.
We have to understand that in the Chilean society we can find a lot of inequality. Despite the development, the OECD membership, the GDP growing and country status in the worldwide context, Chile still has a lot of work in terms of decreasing the widespread differences and the lack of fairness. Those facts configure a “substrate” that allows in this case – disaster, lack of electricity, overwhelmed security forces and of course lack of food and water – this sort of social outbreak. I am not justifying that action, but we have to recognize the existence of this “basement”.
The other factor is related with the government’s performance during the current situation. Given the substrate we have defined before, was very easy to think this situation could occurs. President Bachelet has decided just yesterday the curfew, 48 hours after the onset of the disaster, and soldiers finally have taken the control of Concepcion’s city today. This decision was correct, but it was too late.
I do not know whether the “symbolic” image related with the soldiers on the streets – maybe remembering the Pinochet’s Military Government – played a role delaying the decision. But in the end was clear the decision was necessary, at all. Now the next President Pinera – who enter in the office 11th March – knows he has not only the mission of reconstruct the country, also he and his cabinet must definitive became Chile a country where the social justice is present.
