Tensions are on the rise in Chile after a fatal arson was blamed on Mapuche activists although a link was later disputed by top officials.

President Sebastian Piñera immediately flew to Araucania, where many Mapuche live, after a wealthy rancher and his wife died in a fire last week. He blamed the attack on "terrorists" and one of his top officials said Mapuche activists left fliers on the scene.

But Mapuche leaders condemned the incident and Interior Minister Andrés Chadwick later linked the arson on “a small group of violent people who have no connection with the Mapuche people," the Inter Press Service reported. Piñera also said he would maintain an increased police presence in the area.

“My community, family and I have suffered attacks of this nature; unknown elements torched my house three times and the remains of my uncle were found after,” Mapuche leader Juana Calfunao Paillaef said in a letter to Piñera, the Associated Press reported. “But in my case there were no visits by the Chilean president, a state of emergency was not declared and the perpetrators are not punished under the anti-terror law.”

Truckers responded with a protest of their own, blocking the main road in the country on Monday.

Get the Story:
Chilean truckers block main road to protest deadly arson attack in remote southern region (AP 1/8)
Historic Mapuche Land Conflict Flares Up (IPS 1/8)
Chile police: Businessman, wife die as home burns during attack believed by indigenous Mapuche (AP 1/8)