Chile: Indigenous activists obstruct main access to Salar de Atacama area in Antofagasta Region as of Jan. 11

Activists affiliated with the Council of Atacameno Peoples (Consejo de Pueblos Atacamenos, CPA) have launched an indefinite protest that has obstructed the main access to the Salar de Atacama area in the Antofagasta Region as of Jan. 11. The purpose of the blockade is to denounce the recent Codelco-SQM lithium mining agreement. Protest organizers assert that the agreement did not include sufficient environmental protections or input from indigenous communities and are calling for President Gabriel Boric to visit the Salar de Atacama area.

Authorities will likely deploy a heightened security presence to the protest site. Clashes between protesters and police cannot be ruled out, especially if authorities attempt to forcibly disperse the demonstrators. The protest activity and any heightened security measures imposed by authorities will probably cause localized transport and business disruptions.