Armed Forces at the Service of Citizens

El Líbero, December 24, 2022

The delivery efforts, such as those of the military currently deployed in Viña, serve to remind us of a central characteristic of Chileans: solidarity.

The week began with an important announcement; the government presented the National Policy Against Organized Crime. However, while the document was being analyzed and comments were being heard and read regarding the request for intervention in the municipality of Santiago, a forest fire affected, in a preliminary estimate, more than 500 homes in Viña del Mar and led the President of the Republic to declare a State of Constitutional Exception for Catastrophe, deploying military personnel to assist with emergency control efforts. 

For many, the National Defense sector is difficult to understand; it is very abstract, and unlike other countries, Chile is not involved in armed conflicts. Others see them as a solution to public security issues, such as uncontrolled migration in the north or violence in the Southern Macrozone. But often, many forget the contribution that the military makes to citizens, a contribution that is periodically reminded by the disasters so characteristic of our country. Today it is Viña del Mar, but previously it was Valparaíso and Santa Olga, and long before that, the floods in the north. 

Public officials who are at the service of citizens, but who have very different characteristics from other state employees. For them, the political color of the current government does not matter; Chile and Chileans come first. They give everything so that we have a protected country, and in times of emergency, they leave their families to assist those of others. 

In addition to their love and commitment to Chile, generosity is a defining trait of these public officials who have no set working hours; they perform their duties 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

Before coming to power, the young leftist leaders currently in La Moneda displayed a rather reactive attitude against the Armed Forces. They rejected their contribution in La Araucanía and insulted them in downtown Santiago during the social outbreak.

Today, reality has shown them a different face. I do not believe their opinion has changed; however, our military, through their dedication and commitment, have demonstrated to Chile that their allegiance is to the country and its citizens. It does not matter who the political leader is or if they previously called for a return to the barracks. Their commitment and generosity have no ideology. They will respond to civilian command for a simple reason: because their service is to their country. 

Two weeks ago, I wrote in my column that the contribution of the Armed Forces to democracy was silent, referring to the stability role they provide to the country. Today, that contribution is filled with sound, and we see how close they are to citizens, who express their support reflected in the trust these institutions register in surveys. 

We are celebrating Christmas, a moment of unity and generosity, which the fast pace of December often makes us forget. However, delivery efforts, such as those of the military currently deployed in Viña, serve to remind us of a central characteristic of Chileans: solidarity.

Pilar Lizana
Researcher, AthenaLab

Source: El Líbero