Demand Response of Commissioner Egaña
Repression and detention of Mapuche Students in Temuko by Police
The executive planned a meeting with leaders of indigenous student residences from the different parts of the country for the 30 th October 2008 in Santiago . On Monday 20 th October the government agreed that the Mapuche students would evaluate the proposal in advance. However, until now the document hadn't been sent to them, nor would they answer the phones to them. Therefore, the students started demonstrations in Temuko.
Communication Team/ Civic Observatory
Luis Panguinao, Student Spokesman - Friday, 24th October, 2008
SANTIAGO - four Mapuche students were detained last Thursday in Temuko. They had been peacefully demonstrating when they were violently evicted by Police from the Offices of INDAP (Agricultural Development Institute) in Temuko. The students had been occupying the offices in protest of the breach of a contract made last Monday regarding a new Student Residence Policy, which the government still hadn't fulfilled.
An extensive operation was carried out by Police against a tiny group of young people, using Police buses, two water canons and a skunk bomb. As a result of the violence, Patricio Orlando Antiago Millanao was injured. He was a student in his first year of study in Electronic Civil Engineering at the University of la Frontera. According to eyewitnesses who saw him bleeding, he had suffered serious physical injuries from the aggression inflicted on him by the police, when they arrested him.
Luis Panguinao, Coordinator of Indigenous Student Residences, explained that this peaceful occupation of the Indap Offices had aimed to highlight the serious situation in which the students find themselves. It is only when they exercise pressure on the Government through demonstration that they are taken seriously by the authorities:
"The government agreed in 2007 to send us a proposal for a new indigenous student residence policy. Only today (24 th October) did they send us the proposal as a result of these peaceful demonstrations, and a road block. The government has not delivered what we asked for since they are planning to increase residence scholarships, and not consider the cultural relevance. They are working on a project of homogenisation, where the only thing that interests them is to assimilate the Mapuche People." affirmed the leader.
Under the recent ratification of Convention 169 of the ILO (International Labour Organisation), the government is obliged to listen to and ponder the proposal which the students have submitted and sent to the government. This convention gives the students the right to be consulted in decisions which concern them directly, as is the case with the establishment of a Policy on Indigenous Student Residences.
The leader, Panguñao denounces the particularly violent repression inflicted upon the indigenous student community by the Police. He adds that: "Students from university residences are particularly targeted for persecution. We are the first to be arrested when we choose to speak out in public. We believe that these measures are racist and obviously anti-democratic, as they take advantage of students who cannot defend themselves."
Reactions
After the eviction from INDAP, a public communiqué from within the Pelontuwe Residence in Temuko denounced the attempt of police to raid this student residence.
In a press conference called at 12pm in their student residence the students reasserted their demands afresh, and expressed extreme disapproval of the abuse they had suffered at the hands of the police: "We demand a real and concrete residence policy, which will benefit our culture, and promote the recovery of our identity, making a positive contribution to this country."
In the student's opinion, this policy must consider five main issues. The most urgent is the construction of three new residences: We Liwen, in Valdavia; Purram Peyum Zugu, in Temuko and another in Antofagasta. The city of Antofagasta currently has no residence for indigenous students, despite the obvious necessity. The students state: "The Policy that they made in 2007 does not conform with the policy which the government offers us today. We are disappointed with the policy the government has offered."
According to the statistics, the number of the rural population of indigenous students needing residences has risen to approximately 1500 students. This number is increasing yearly. With this in mind, the students report that current homes are collapsing under the pressure, and there is currently only the capacity to house 350 students. They are certain that these are neither minimal nor favourable conditions for students in higher education.
The students announced that they are taking every necessary legal means to denounce the detentions made by the government. Furthermore, they insist that charges be brought against the police that injured one of the detained students during the protests. "It is indeed deplorable that even nowadays this student was detained and violently attacked by police. Furthermore, we are not even allowed to visit him in hospital! Various lawyers are looking at the case to reach a positive and favourable resolution." pointed out Luis Panguinao.
Hernando Silva, Coordinator of the Legal Department of the Civic Observatory, reported that the detainee Patricio Antiago: "Was set free, but will be summoned to a court tribunal in November. I confirm that the student suffered injury, and I will see that actions will be taken against the police for injuries incurred. The young man will be charged with the crime of public disorder."
Finally, the students announce that it was only through the pressures exerted on the government, that they fulfilled their previous agreement, made in 2007. Therefore, if the dialogue isn't successful, they will continue to demonstrate and fight for an immediate solution to the current situation.
Source: www.observatorio.cl
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Translated by Elise Saunders
Mapuche International Link