Declaration of the Mapuche King's Council members of the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia

Press Release - July 4th, 2014

On June 22nd this year, a group of individuals gathered at La Chèze1, ostensibly to honor the memory of the late Prince Philippe I of Araucania and Patagonia. The event included the celebration of a mass in the chapel of the said residence, during which, in a shameful act of medieval tradition, the twenty participants proceeded to appoint a new "prince". It should be noted that three quarters of them had never participated in any activities of the Royal House, as denounced Gaston Lion, the sole King's Council members present at the event, who in a public statement later denounced the betrayal.

The Mapuche Council members of the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia in exile express their condemnation of the communication tricks of that group.

With total disregard for the damage caused to the image and integrity of the Royal House, and the Mapuche cause, and motivated by alleged constitutional loopholes. In addition, they also echoed the trivialization tactics promoted by the political elite of Chile and Argentina on the foundation of Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia, the group tried to justify his deplorable action as a ploy using the method of "acclamation" attributed to the appointment of the first Mapuche Monarch in November 1860.

The Mapuche King's Council members condemn this attack not only to the royal house headed by Prince Antonio IV and its inherent sovereign rights, but also consider it an affront to the dignity of our people. Those who seek to justify their pathetic action on behalf of the interests of the Mapuche nation.

King Orélie Antoine was not invested by "acclamation" but elected in a constituent assembly or parliament called Futa Kollog2. This included hundreds of Lonkos (Mapuche chiefs) and thousands of delegates from across the Wallmapu3. The claim to represent such an event by a small group of foreigners who don't know the Mapuche history, struggle and culture, it is just ridiculous.

The conspirators whom affront the integrity of our Kingdom, blindly conforming to the derogatory view promoted historically by the Mapuche enemies who had applauded their extermination, plunder and pillage, and denied them their rights as an independent state. Furthermore, they have become complicit in their will to destroy the monarchical government, a strategy employed by the establishment for over a century and a half, thus depriving the Mapuche nation of a fundamental legal instrument, a legacy left to us by our ancient authorities.

Finally, we believe that 'to suggest that' the Mapuche way to elect their authorities was by "acclamation" is to be uninformed of their culture and society. Moreover, King Orelie Antoine I, and the monarchs that followed never used the European monarchical rituals of the middle ages in their ceremonies. The Mapuche respects his authority, but never kneels before them, as did the subjects of the illusory "prince" on the 22nd of June.

Over the past 150 years, the royal government in exile has been infiltrated, has had its legality questioned, its diplomatic representation kidnapped and has been libelously and systematically attacked by its enemies in vain, and we are convinced that today's conspirators attempts will fail in equal measure. The Royal House will continue to uphold the banner of freedom of our founding fathers, the Toki Mañil, Kilapan, Kalfukura and King Orélie-Antoine, among many others who gave their lives in defence of our peoples' independence.

Despite the actions of these individuals the Constitution and the inherent rights of the Kingdom within the international legal system will remain defended and this will not diminish its commitment to maintain the flame of freedom, autonomy and self-determination of our Mapuche nation and other indigenous peoples of the South Cone of Abya Yala (South America).

On behalf of the Mapuche King's Council Members of the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia,

Count Mariqueo of Lul-lul Mawidha
King's Council Member to the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia

  1. La Chèze house of King Orélie Antoine I and the residence of the late Prince Philippe I of Araucania and Patagonia.

  2. Futa Kollog, is a national assembly, also known as a parliament, it is composed of delegates from the four butalmapu, known throughout the Mapuche society as meli Wixan Mapu (four territorial jurisdictions) that make up the whole territory of the Mapuche and other indigenous peoples of Southern Cone.

  3. Wallmapu, indigenous territory which then included the entire area south of the Colorado River and / or Salado of Puelmapu (Argentina) and south of the Bio-Bio river in Gulumapu (Chile) to the Southern Cone of South America.

 

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