2023-10-31 05:00:00
The trial for the death of two children in the Lanín National Park began, in San Martín de los Andes, which in 2016 were crushed by a falling tree on a campsite. This Monday the parents of the victims declaredwho denounced “only receiving chicanes” from the National Parks Administration (APN), and the first of the four park rangers chargedwho stated: “I’m not a murderer, I did not do anything”. This Thursday there will be forceful measures, with the closure of most of the country’s national parks.
The four APN agents were charged with manslaughter, alleged failure to fulfill the duties of a public official and serious injuries. Additionally, they are charged with manslaughter. two tourist providers, members of the Curruhuinca Mapuche community. The six are accused of negligence in failing to warn of the risks posed by an enormous pellín oak, which was with its bare roots in the campsite enabled. The penalties can reach up to six years in prison.
The park ranger Juan Ignacio Jones declared this Monday in the city of Neuquén: “It is not my role to reverse natural environmental deterioration, only the negative impact produced by human beings.”. He added: “I have nothing to do with the campsite, tourist providers and much less with security” and said that being charged is “an injustice.” “I’m not a murderer, I didn’t do anything. “I am proud to be a national official,” he commented. He also assured that “at the time of the incident there were no authorities in National Parks because the government had changed 20 days ago.”
The tragedy in the Lanín National Park, in San Martín de los Andes
The tragedy occurred on January 1, 2016 at the Lolen campsite, located in Catritre bay, on the shores of Lake Lácar. The accident caused the death of Matías Mercanti, 7 years old, and Martina Sepúlveda, 3, while two adult relatives of the children suffered serious injuries. At the trial, Matías’ father was the first witness to be called. He said there was no wind forecast that day and there was no signage indicating caution.
“The tree fell at the same time this pen falls.”, demonstrated Mercanti, who was asked by Jones’ lawyer if he considered that the foot of the tree was a suitable place for the children to stay, so he answered yes, as it was a concessioned and authorized campsite. He was also asked if he saw that the approximately 40 meter high oak tree was in a state of rot, to which he clarified that that task is “done by the park rangers”.
The father of the other victim said that he is a native of San Martín de los Andes and related: “We went with the family to share a day at the beach and we came back with my daughter in a box”. He added that at the time “a scream was heard like a horror movie” and that later “We only received chicanes in these eight years”. The mother of the 3-year-old girl stated that on January 1 there was no wind and that it was a hot day, so they chose to leave Martina in the shade. “I thought my daughter was going to come out with a broken rib, not crushed. My life changed,” she lamented.
In communication with the radio Black riverMartina’s father shot at the APN, given that “They were not even able to show solidarity” and stressed that the trial came “following almost eight years.” The objective of the process will be to request more control at the site of the tragedy: “We ask for control, there should be signs warning of certain things or situations because it is a campsite, not a wild place, so many more people enter,” he explained.
In 2019, the federal judge of Zapala, Silvina Domínguez, had dismissed those involved. The resolution was appealedsince the case contains documentation establishing that both the park rangers and the Mapuche community were obliged to carry out a review of the trees prior to the start of the seasonwith the aim of guaranteeing the safety of visitors.
The position of National Parks, the tension with Justice and forceful measures
The National Parks Administration expressed its solidarity “with the deep pain and grief of the family and society as a whole in the face of such an event,” but announced that, “While the trial lasts, a total paralysis will be carried out in all protected areas of the country”. In a statement they stated that, “without intending to ignore this unrest, it is also imminent to emphasize that the role of the APN is precisely the conservation of wild spaces and that “The facts of nature are unpredictable and inevitable.”.
“A conviction by the justice system that places responsibility on the APN workers would put at risk the very essence of national parks and would affect all activities related to tourism, public use and all those derivatives that are a cultural and labor source of so many projects, undertakings, research, and all types of work that are carried out inside all the protected areas of the country. “, they indicated.
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According to the agency Telamthe strongest protest action is planned for this Thursday, November 2. This is a measure to which almost all national parks in Argentina will join, which The trails will not be opened to visitors, nor will excursions or any other type of activity be allowed.. The 2016 tragedy raised significant concerns regarding the nature of rangers’ work and the potential legal implications of unforeseeable natural events in protected areas.
The parks affected by the restrictions will include Lanín, Sierra de las Quijadas, Quebrada del Condorito, Chaco National Park and the Valle Encantado area in Los Cardones national park. The parks of El Palmar, Aconquija, Monte León, Leoncito, Talampaya, Quijadas, Arrayanes, Huapi, Alerces, Cardones, Pre-Delta, Iberá, Mburucuyá, Petrified Forests of Jaramillo, Ciervo will also join the protest – with total restriction of the Pantanos and the Iguazú National Park.
ML / ED
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