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MAPUCHE INTERNATIONAL LINK |
Mapuche Hunger Strike Day 73
Chilean Ambassador Lunches While Political Prisoners Starve
Press Release - 26 May 2011
Solidarity Demonstration to take place today Thursday May 26 - Human Rights Delegation to Present Letter to Chilean Embassy in Support of Indigenous Mapuche Hunger Strikers.
In an expression of solidarity with four political prisoners who are on hunger strike against the Chilean government’s continued use of draconian anti-terrorism laws, Mapuche solidarity groups will formally register their concerns with the Chilean embassy today.
Members of Mapuche International Link, the International Human Rights Project and the Association of Chilean ex-Political Prisoners in the United Kingdom, have drafted a letter which they will present to a representative of the Chilean government. This letter condemns the government’s continued use – in open defiance of international pressure - of anti-terrorism legislation against indigenous activists.
It had been hoped that the representatives would be able to meet with Mr. Tomas Müller, the Chilean ambassador, however they have since been informed that he has an urgent ‘lunch meeting’ to attend. No doubt this is a luxury that the political prisoners themselves would like to enjoy – especially as recent reports from Angol prison suggest that the health of the detainees has deteriorated to the extent that they require 24-hour care.
The families of the men have also issued a plea for solidarity with the prisoners and reiterated their call for a new and fair trial with an independent, competent and impartial tribunal, without the application of Law 18.314, (the Chilean Anti-Terrorism Law).
In the attached letter, they expose serious flaws in the prosecution’s case. They observe that torture was used to extract evidence; that the case is heavily reliant upon the evidence of unknown witnesses; and that the Public Prosecutor diverged from standard legal practice (refer to the attached letter).
The four men, who currently face sentences of between 20 and 25 years, have been accused of belonging to Coordinadora Arauco Malleco (CAM) and of attacking a member of the Chilean judiciary. Under Chile’s notorious anti-terrorism law, which was first drafted by the fascist Pinochet regime, they are subject to trial by civilian and military courts. The present Chilean government continues to use this law against legitimate expressions of Mapuche resistance, a practice which openly contravenes its initial promise (September 2010) to the contrary.
After seventy three days without food the prisoners’ health is seriously jeopardised. They are pinning their hopes on a Supreme Court appeal (which us due on June 3) and upon their broader solidarity with supporters of the Mapuche cause. Join our protest to oppose Chile’s continued abuse of due legal process and its indigenous people. We will meet on Thursday, May 26 in front of the Chilean embassy (37-41 Old Queen St, London SW1H 9JA), between 1.00 and 2.00pm. You can also express your solidarity by signing this letter to Milton Juica, the President of the Supreme Court of Chile.
