International Campaign To Support Mapuche Political Prisoners On Hunger Strike In Chile

International Campaign To Support Mapuche Political Prisoners On Hunger Strike In Chile

Translated from Spanish, Original Below

Mapuche organizations and solidarity of Europe and North America

As of July 12, 2010 thirty-one Mapuche are on hunger strike in prisons of Concepcion, Valdivia, Temuco Lebu. Mapuche political prisoners on hunger strike demanding the right to fair trials, the application of an objective and impartial justice and in particular the repeal of the Patriot Act.

The fact that indigenous political prisoners are forced to drastic action due to the fact that in the course of the last decade No.18.314 the Terrorism Act, "enacted during the Pinochet dictatorship - applies only against political leaders and Mapuche. The repeal of this law is required by much of the International System of Human Rights that stands between the Ethics Commission Against Torture, whose report was discussed by the Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination United Nations in August 2009.

The implementation of the Patriot Act is a violation of human rights of citizens exercising their right to protest, demanding the right of ownership over their ancestral lands, demand respect for their way of life and cultural identity. The Human Rights Council of the UN, several Special Reports, has recommended the non-application of the Patriot Act to the activities and protests and claims of the Mapuche people. These recommendations say that implementation of this law does not guarantee a fair trial and provide background information on where these rights are violated. It highlights the use of faceless witnesses, keeping the accused in custody indefinitely, and to subject the accused to trial-by dual civilian and military justice, at the same time.

In Chile during the decade of ethnic persecution takes alarming proportions. At this time, 37 Mapuche political leaders are in prison in various prisons in southern Chile. Of these 28 prisoners are indicted or convicted by the anti-terrorism law. In total there are 60 community members who are in prison or on parole for a sentence or injunctive relief. Three Mapuche have had to seek political refuge in Argentina (2) and Switzerland and five Mapuche have died as a result of the shooting and torture by the Chilean police.

The executive and legislative branch representatives of Chile are required to initiate a dialogue process with political prisoners on hunger strike. It is necessary to rectify the discriminatory policy applied to the historic demands of the Mapuche people of Chile that the State continues to violate. The Chilean state has an obligation to comply with the obligations it has signed international instruments, such as ILO Convention 169., The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and end the repression and persecution of Mapuche leaders praise. "

Make the following points.

Mapuche organizations and solidarity of Europe and North America express our support for the Mapuche political prisoners on hunger strike. We support their demands for justice in order to:

--Term of institutionalized violence and repeal of the Patriot Act
--End the policy of militarization of the Mapuche areas,
--Ensuring respect for the guarantees of due process and freedom of the Mapuche political prisoners currently incarcerated.
--Repeal of the system of "double simultaneous trials" before military tribunals and civil courts. --Guarantees of defense of the accused.
--Political rights and territorial autonomy and self determination. Rights under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, ratified by Chile on September 13, 2007.
--Reaffirm that the Mapuche nation is in the legitimate right to fight for recovery and reconstruction of its historic territory usurped by the Chilean State. Territories formally recognized in international treaties by the Spanish Empire and the rule of Chile.
--Communicate that we continue our work of denunciation of the Chilean State and its racist policy of repression against the Mapuche nation.

If you want to join and express their solidarity Click Here International Campaign to support political prisoners on hunger strike in Chile http://mapuche.info/?lp_1

Jorge Calbucura
Coordinador Centro de Documentación Mapuche, Ñuke Mapu Suecia
Reynaldo Mariqueo
Coordinador Enlace Mapuche Internacional - Inglaterra
Carlos Contreras Painemal
Coordinador Centro de Documentación Mapuche, Rucadugun - Alemania
Gaston Lion
Coordinador Comite Belga - America India – Belgica
Victor Ancalaf-Llaupe
Werken Mapuche. Comunidad Choin Lafkenche Collipulli IX Region Chile.
Andrea Marifil Calfunao
Co-Presidenta Conclave Indígena Global (Región sur) Ginebra-Suiza
Rayen Calfunao Paillalef
Coordinadora Internacional ante las Naciones Unidas del Defensor Autónomo Mapuche (DAM) Ginebra-Suiza
Miguel Utreras Imilmaqui
Co-director Center for Innovative Development - Noruega
Maria Esperidion
Juan Quempumil
Coordinadores - Comite de Apoyo al Pueblo Mapuche, Noruega
R. Eduardo Rapiman M.
Director Laboratorio de las Artes (Lab.ADC) Araucania, Noruega
Nina Dean
Coordinador Portal Enlace Mapuche Internacional - Inglaterra
Dionicio Barrales Leal
Coordinador Mapuche Nation Support Committe, Edmonton - Canadá
Victor Gavilan
Coordinador Mapuche Nation Support Committe, Calgary - Canadá
Oscar Loncochino
Coordinador - Puentes Culturales Umeå, Sapmi/Suecia
Domingo Paine
Coordinador - Voz Nación Mapuche - Suecia
Cecilia Aguilera
Coordinadora Mapuche Nation Support Committe, Winnipeg - Canadá
Carlos Pilquil
Coordinador Mapuche Nation Support Committe, Montreal - Canadá
Fuente: Ñuke Mapu