Which radical Mapuche groups continue the armed struggle in Chile after the decapitation of the CAM?

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The ongoing “Mapuche conflict” continues to pose a serious security challenge for the Chilean State, with recent developments shedding light on the activities of various armed groups in the region.

One of the most prominent figures in this conflict, Héctor Llaitul Carrillanca, a leader and spokesperson for the Coordinadora Arauco-Malleco (CAM), was recently sentenced to 23 years in prison for crimes against State Security Law. This comes as his two sons are also in custody for arson attacks, signaling a decline in the influence of the CAM.

However, other armed groups are reportedly vying for control in the wake of the CAM’s weakening. Groups such as Weichán Auka Mapu (WAM), Mapuche Resistencia Lafkenche (RML), Liberación Nacional Mapuche (LNM), and Resistencia Mapuche Malleco (RMM) are said to be active in the region.

The RML, known for its involvement in wood theft, made headlines in December 2021 for a series of arson attacks that destroyed numerous properties in the Biobío Region. The group has since been implicated in other similar incidents, including an attack on the Grollmus mill in Contulmo in August 2022.

Similarly, the WAM has denied involvement in violent acts such as the murder of police officers in Cañete. The group, which split from the CAM in 2014, has faced setbacks due to the arrest of key members like Luis García-Huidobro.

The LNM, a relatively new group, has also made its presence felt with attacks on industrial machinery and properties. Their actions, including the burning of machines at an aggregates company in Lautaro, have drawn attention to their goal of Mapuche National Liberation.

With unknown leaders and a transnational agenda, these armed groups pose a significant challenge to authorities in the region. The ongoing conflict underscores the complex dynamics at play in the struggle for indigenous rights and territorial autonomy in Chile.