I've noticed that there are quite a few NPN'rs with plans to visit Patagonia this year. Be aware that the traditionally stable political climate of Southern Chile is taking a turn for the worst. Make sure you plan for potential road blocks and or violence this year. This is from the Lonely Planet travel forum today:
Sat Jan 08, 2011 10:35 pm
Date January 2011: Stay out of Punta Arenas. There is now civil strife in that city. On Monday 10 January the "community leaders" are planning to initiate a shutdown of many businesses and services. The conflict is expected to affect most of the continental XII region in the provinces of Ultima Esperanza, Magallanes, and the Chilean jurisdictions on the island of Tierra del Fuego.
A crippling of tourism is one of the stated aims of strike leaders. It is unclear whether activists will blockade roads that connect with Argentina.
Preventing access to the Torres del Paine national park has been specifically mentioned by the activists. Roadblocks have been set up at key intersections throughout the XII region and may be installed again without notice. It is not clear now many of these roadblocks and barricade sites will have surveillance by the national police. In the past the carabineros have allowed protesters to blockade urban and intercity roads and highways.
If prior resolution is not reached, all communities in the XII Region are expected to be affected indefinitely.
The effect of drawing limited national police forces to the barricades is expected to reduce police effectiveness in the XII region communities and lead to some degree of looting and/or vandalism beyond normal levels.
Activists have barricaded the national highways, blocking access to and from the Punta Arenas (PUQ) airport, preventing buses from entering or leaving. The civilian airport at Punta Arenas shares space with the Chilean Air Force and the potential for clashes exists. As of 9 January it appears that the Chilean president does not plan to call out the army or other national military forces but instead will let the locals inflict economic harm upon themselves. Tourism has already been affected by cancellations which in turn jeopardize local employment as well as future tourism through a sullying of local reputation for stability.
The reason for the strike and blockade is over a reduction in the amount of subsidy provided by the national government for residential heating gas. Residential heating gas is currently 80 percent subsidised by the national government. The government and other observers contend that years of low-cost subsidised heating gas have resulted in wasteful construction and heating practices. A strong feeling of regional animosity toward the distant national government is expected to further enflame the populace, beyond the simple issue of subsidy reduction. Regional animosity is compounded and emboldened by a history of "mutinies" including a 1919 takeover and partial burning of the town of Puerto Natales by worker gangs from a local meat-processing plant.
We are already seeing shortages of some food items and ammunition as people are stocking up.
We do not discount the possibility of violence during the month of January 2011.
Again -- stay out of Punta Arenas and all of the southern Patagonian Chile region until the regional strike has been safely resolved.
Posted by David Rogers on January 9, 2011 at 12:13 PM
Posted by Luis Argerich on January 11, 2011 at 1:12 PM
I'd have liked the title to be "Chile Travel Alert" Geographically the region known as Patagonia is 80% in Argentina and so far nothing bad is happening in my country.
Posted by Joshua Hardin on January 24, 2011 at 7:19 PM
Thom Hogan was leading a workshop and got caught up in this. He has an account of his experiences there. Good read. http://www.bythom.com/hostage.htm
Discussion
6 repliesSat Jan 08, 2011 10:35 pm
Date January 2011: Stay out of Punta Arenas. There is now civil strife in that city. On Monday 10 January the "community leaders" are planning to initiate a shutdown of many businesses and services. The conflict is expected to affect most of the continental XII region in the provinces of Ultima Esperanza, Magallanes, and the Chilean jurisdictions on the island of Tierra del Fuego.
A crippling of tourism is one of the stated aims of strike leaders. It is unclear whether activists will blockade roads that connect with Argentina.
Preventing access to the Torres del Paine national park has been specifically mentioned by the activists. Roadblocks have been set up at key intersections throughout the XII region and may be installed again without notice. It is not clear now many of these roadblocks and barricade sites will have surveillance by the national police. In the past the carabineros have allowed protesters to blockade urban and intercity roads and highways.
If prior resolution is not reached, all communities in the XII Region are expected to be affected indefinitely.
The effect of drawing limited national police forces to the barricades is expected to reduce police effectiveness in the XII region communities and lead to some degree of looting and/or vandalism beyond normal levels.
Activists have barricaded the national highways, blocking access to and from the Punta Arenas (PUQ) airport, preventing buses from entering or leaving. The civilian airport at Punta Arenas shares space with the Chilean Air Force and the potential for clashes exists. As of 9 January it appears that the Chilean president does not plan to call out the army or other national military forces but instead will let the locals inflict economic harm upon themselves. Tourism has already been affected by cancellations which in turn jeopardize local employment as well as future tourism through a sullying of local reputation for stability.
The reason for the strike and blockade is over a reduction in the amount of subsidy provided by the national government for residential heating gas. Residential heating gas is currently 80 percent subsidised by the national government. The government and other observers contend that years of low-cost subsidised heating gas have resulted in wasteful construction and heating practices. A strong feeling of regional animosity toward the distant national government is expected to further enflame the populace, beyond the simple issue of subsidy reduction. Regional animosity is compounded and emboldened by a history of "mutinies" including a 1919 takeover and partial burning of the town of Puerto Natales by worker gangs from a local meat-processing plant.
We are already seeing shortages of some food items and ammunition as people are stocking up.
We do not discount the possibility of violence during the month of January 2011.
Again -- stay out of Punta Arenas and all of the southern Patagonian Chile region until the regional strike has been safely resolved.
I don't see anything specific to Patagonia (looking at Argentina and Chile) on the State Department's site (yet), buy you should heed Mike's caution.
Could you please supply a link to the advisory as I am unable to find it. Thanks!