The last session of the joint committee in charge of resolving the differences between the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate over the bill establishing the Rules on the Use of Force (RUF) for the Armed Forces and the Forces of Order and Security lasted just over an hour.
The initiative was introduced in a message by former president Gabriel Boric in April 2023 and remained in the joint committee for one year and four months.
In addition to the provision approved on Tuesday, concerning the "potentially lethal" use of force by the Armed Forces and the Forces of Order and Security, this Wednesday saw the approval of eight rules specifying the rules.
Number one is the "deployment of forces, vehicles, ships or aircraft, devices or other institutional means, and the carrying of weapons, in a deterrent manner."
"Acting through communication techniques and the use of verbal persuasion, such as dialogue, mediation and negotiation," is number two.
The third is the "manual use of deterrent or other less-lethal elements, such as smoke, pepper spray, tear gas, sound, light, water and batons."
The fourth refers to the "use of devices or systems that do not constitute lethal armament, intended for the launching of projectiles containing paint, pepper spray, tear gas, water or other less-lethal agents."
Number five is the use of force "for physical control, the restraint of the offender to overcome their resistance, immobilize them, handcuff them or apply another…
AI Brief
Your highlights
The last session of the joint committee tasked with resolving the differences between the Chamber and the Senate on the bill establishing the Rules on the Use of Force (RUF) for the Armed Forces and the Forces of Order and Security lasted just over an hour. The initiative was introduced in a message from former president Gabriel Boric in April 2023 and remained in the joint committee for one year and four months. In addition to the provision approved on Tuesday, concerning the "potentially lethal" use of force by the Armed Forces and the Forces of Order and Security, this Wednesday the approval of eight rules specifying those rules was added. Number 1 is the "deployment of forces, vehicles, ships or aircraft, devices or other institutional means, and the carrying of weapons, in a dissuasive manner." Number 2 is "action through communication techniques and the use of verbal persuasion means, such as dialogue, mediation and negotiation." The third is the "manual use of dissuasive or other less-lethal elements, such as smoke, pepper spray, tear gas, sound, light, water and batons." The fourth refers to the "use of devices or systems that do not constitute lethal weaponry, intended for launching projectiles containing paint, pepper spray, tear gas, water or other less-lethal agents." Number 5 is the use of force "for physical control, the subduing of the offender to overcome their resistance, immobilize them, handcuff them or apply another means of immobilization. Once subdued and immobilized and offering no resistance, the use of force against them is prohibited. For this purpose, the use of handcuffs or similar elements is permitted." Rule 6 establishes that "military personnel may use blank ammunition in a dissuasive manner." Number 7 is the "use of shotguns with anti-riot ammunition, only to prevent or repel a serious and imminent danger to the life or physical integrity of third parties or of police or military personnel." Finally, rule 8 establishes the "use of lethal weaponry, only against persons who use or are preparing to use lethal weapons or another means that endangers the life of police or military personnel, or of third parties, or that could cause considerable harm to physical integrity, especially if they keep the weapon in their possession." Along with this, the joint committee approved an article concerning military justice. "Officials of the Forces of Order and Security and of the Armed Forces who, by reason of their position or in connection with or on the occasion of the exercise of the functions provided for in this law, have caused damage to or the destruction of property shall not be civilly liable, provided that there has been no direct intent, without prejudice to the potential liability of the State," the provision states. Once the vote was concluded, Security Minister Martín Arrau (Republican) thanked the joint committee for its work and that of its chairman, Senator Karim Bianchi (independent), noting that the bill had remained in this body for a year and a half. "We are giving order and certainty to the use of force, to our forces of order and security, who go out into the streets to confront criminals, and this comes precisely during a critical week of confrontation on our streets. And that is why this takes on a double meaning," the minister said. In that regard, Arrau explained that with this initiative "what we are doing is replacing a dispersion of rules, which are often interpreted in different ways in contingency situations, with a robust legal framework, a law that provides an ordering of how force is to be used in different situations. That is the importance." With this step completed, it now remains for both chambers of Congress to approve what was approved by the joint committee. As the Chamber of Deputies is the chamber of origin, it is the first to receive the bill. Preliminarily, and under reservation, it was discussed in the joint committee that one option is for these rules to be voted on next Wednesday. And on that same day, in the afternoon, for the Senate to do the same. When asked about the Executive's intentions regarding the timeline, Minister Arrau stated: "We will talk with the institution so that it happens as soon as possible. We want this rule to take effect on the streets as soon as possible."