Neltume, Chile

Infobox City
official_name = Neltume
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subdivision_type = Region
subdivision_name = Los Ríos
subdivision_type1 = Province
subdivision_name1 = Valdivia
subdivision_type2 = Municipalidad
subdivision_name2 = Panguipulli
subdivision_type3 = Comuna
subdivision_name3 = Panguipulli
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government_type = Municipalidad
leader_title = Alcade
leader_name = Alejandro Kohler
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population_as_of = 2002 census [http://www.ine.cl/canales/chile_estadistico/demografia_y_vitales/demografia/demografia.php]
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population_total = 2,125
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timezone = Chilean Standard
utc_offset = -4 hours
timezone_DST = Chilean Daylight
utc_offset_DST = -3 hours
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area_code = Country + town = 56 + ?
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Neltume is a Chilean town in Panguipulli's commune, of Los Ríos Region. It lies along the route to Huahum Pass into Argentina. The town's main economic activities are forestry and, more recently, tourism since the Huilo-Huilo Biological Reserve was created in 1999.

The Neltume Guerrilla

During the military regime in Chile the Revolutionary Left Movement (MIR in Spanish) drew up plans for a popular guerrilla war in southern Chile. They sought to create a focus of resistance inspired by the Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement in the Sierra Maestra. The area of Neltume was chosen due to the presence of an indigenous Mapuche population and "a large and explosive rural proletariat" among the sawmill workers of Neltume. It was also considered convenient that the place was close to the cities of Valdivia, Temuco and Osorno. [http://www.archivochile.com/Archivo_Mir/experiencia_neltume/mirneltume0003.pdf Los que retornaron para luchar] ] In the 12th July of 1980 the MIR sent the first unit of its newly-formed guerrilla group into the mountainous area around Neltume. Most of the guerrillas had been detained in 1973 following the 1973 Chilean coup d'état and had to enter illegally into Chile from their exile countries aboard. The foco was discovered by the authorities in July 1981 when it had been active for less than one year. The Chilean army succeeded in isolating the group by August 1981 and in October of the same year its last members were captured. Three guerrillas are claimed to have been captured, tortured and executed. Another six died in combat and during ambushes. Two more were captured in neighboring areas in Argentina, and were transferred to Chile in accordance with Operation Condor.

References