COLUMN | We Must Recover the Lost Freedom

The legitimate use of force exists solely to control the state of human nature, that constant war Hobbes spoke of, against those criminals who have taken the freedoms of many Chileans who now prefer to stay home out of fear.

The protagonists of the debate have been the shootouts at Christmas markets, the seizures of fentanyl and the records of increasingly young offenders. But the truth is that the issue of security in Chile is much deeper than that. These data only reflect how the disease has progressed in a country where, until very recently, those who were supposed to protect us were insulted and those who should have been punished were pardoned. 

Many limits have been crossed, and the pendulum has yet to reach its center, but the return to police duties of Corporal Zamora seems to show us a light at the end of the tunnel. He went from being accused of intentionally pushing a protester into the Mapocho River in October 2020 to being unanimously acquitted. 

Justice takes time but arrives, they say. This saying seems quite true, although I wish it did not take so long, as it did not take long for them to overlook the presumption of innocence and accuse him of intent. The most commendable aspect is that Corporal Zamora, at the end of his trial, expressed his hope to reintegrate into the institution as soon as possible. 

That commitment should be the foundation of all public policies designed to address the security crisis destabilizing the country. Serving the homeland with the determination of Corporal Zamora should be the premise. Because this is for Chile, not for a four-year government. Recovering the freedoms that have been lost due to the rise of crime is for today’s children to achieve their dreams tomorrow. And for that, there is a need for the will to address the problem.

The legitimate use of force exists solely to control the state of human nature, that constant war Hobbes spoke of, against those criminals who have taken the freedoms of many Chileans who now prefer to stay home out of fear. 

That service to the homeland by Corporal Zamora, which leads him to state without hesitation that he wants to wear his uniform again and serve his country, demonstrates the courage and generosity that is needed. Courage to not be afraid to say what many do not want to hear and to do what many do not dare to do due to the political consequences that such actions may bring. Generosity to put Chile first and not the government.

The country does not need heroes; it needs patriotism, the same that is observed in every square where a street performer entertains children with his parrot. 

There are no silver bullets or magic recipes; there are only committed public servants willing to mortgage their political capital, if necessary, to restore freedom to Chileans. 

There is no country in the world that has eradicated organized crime, but there are cases that have managed to keep it as an addressable public security problem by those willing to mortgage political capital, use legitimate force, and deter criminals with a single objective: so that citizens can walk peacefully down the street again.