To protect the human rights of the Mapuche political prisoners on hunger strike
Mrs. Michelle Bachelet Jeria,
President of the Republic,
La Moneda Palace,
Santiago,
Chile.
Your Excellency,
The signatories as shown below, wish to express their concern for the discrimination and abuse directed against the Mapuche communities of Chile.
From the 10th of October 2007, seven Mapuche political prisoners Jaime Marileo, Patricia Troncoso, Jose Millalen, Héctor Llaitul, Jose Huenchunao, Waikilaf Cadin Calfunao and Ivan LLanquileo, initiated an indefinite hunger strike in demand for respect of human rights.
Despite persistent calls by numerous international organisations in defence of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the Chilean government continues with its repressive policy against Mapuche political representatives, using the judiciary and police force as instruments of enforcement.
Incidents related to Mapuche protest for the restitution of their ancestral land, have led to judicial processes and sentences in the last few years where Law No 18.314 of 1984, known as "Anti terrorist Law" have been applied. The United Nations Committee of Human rights, in its final observations of March of 2007, expressed its concern for the accusations of terrorism against Mapuches "for acts of protest or social demand, related to the defence of their land", further 'the guarantee of due process' in relation to judicial proceedings "are limited" under the application of the referred law.
The Declaration on Indigenous Peoples, which was endorsed by the Chilean State, requires that processes are "equitable and just" (article 40), which in the case of the seven Mapuche political leaders on hunger strike, have been disregarded. The Chilean State sentences Mapuche political leaders to prison for offences that, in compliance with the ordinary Penal Code do not normally result in incarceration; Further, they are denied their status as political prisoners.
Madame President, once again we insist that you comply with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Indigenous people Rodolfo Stavenhaggen's recommendations of 2004, which emphasized the continuous marginalization of the majority of the indigenous population and the lack of ratification on the part of the Chilean State of Convention 169 of the International Labour Organisation on Indigenous and Tribal people. This situation remains unfulfilled, although its solution constitutes some of the proposals produced by the Chilean 'Historic, Truth and New Deal Commission' in their report of October 2003.
We recognise and support the demands of the Mapuche political prisoners on hunger strike.
The release of all Mapuche political prisoners
The Demilitarization of the zones in conflict, in the Araucanian region
Yours sincerely,
If you want to express your concern and support our campaign, please sign this petition which will be sent to the Chilean Government led by
President Michelle Bachelet.
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The campaign to protect the human rights of the Mapuche political prisoners on hunger strike, addressed to the president of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, was launched by Mapuche organisations and other solidarity groups based in Europe. The letter was written by Jorge Calbucura - Reynaldo Mariqueo - Rodolfo Vejar - Millaray Waikian - Gaston Lion (calbucura@mapuche.info). This campaign is hosted by www.FirmasOnline.com as a public service. There is no explicit or implicit support to this campaign by www.FirmasOnline.com or its sponsors.