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MAPUCHE INTERNATIONAL LINK Tel/Fax: + 44-117-9279391 |
Hunger Strike and vigil around the world in solidarity with the Mapuche prisoners
16 May 2006
Today Tuesday 16 th of May, Mapuches and non-Mapuches are carrying out a 24 hour hunger strike in different parts of the world in solidarity with the Mapuche political prisoners. In New York the strike will be prolonged until Wednesday, on which day the Chilean Parliament will deliver its verdict on the case. While in Buenos Aires ( Argentina ) a similar vigil will take place, after a march that starts today at 16.00 hours. Old and young are taking part in the hunger strike 'without borders'. Nora Huenu who lives in Spain, chronically ill and knowing what this could do to her health and Atus Mariqueo who recently turned 14 years old and lives in Bristol (England) have both taken part in the hunger strike, among hundreds of others.
Religious Mapuche ceremonies will take place in different parts of the Wallmapu (Mapuche territory) and also in places remote and unimaginable for Mapuches. This shows them the internationalisation of the conflict, symbolised by the four Mapuche prisoners who have been on hunger strike for over 60 days. An example of this are the fast and prayers for mother earth, the Mapuche prisoners, solidarity, peace and harmony taking place today in a Park in Zurich, Switzerand.
The hunger strike that Patricia Troncoso, Jaime Marileo, Patricio Marileo and Juan Huenulao had been maintaining since the 13 th of March was postponed last Sunday 14 th of May after intense negotiations between Mapuches and the Chilean Government. The political prisoners always expressed their desire to establish a dialogue with the Chilean authorities, who only reacted in the last few days when confronted by national and international pressure and after the lives of the hunger strikers was put in serious danger.
As a consequence of these negotiations, with the Bishop of Temuco, senators Alejandro Navarro, Jaime Naranjo and Chief Jose Cariqueo [Mapuche Authority] acting as intermediaries and guarantors, the Government has agreed to urgently send a decree that gives conditional freedom to the Mapuches condemned by the Antiterrorist law, with the condition that they abandon their hunger strike. However, there are serious reservations in the Mapuche community regarding the likelihood of the Chilean Government fulfilling its promise because they have proved their lack of political will to constructively confront the territorial dispute that affects the Mapuche nation.
The Mapuche leader's lack of confidence is based on the negligence shown by successive governments who, since 1990, promised the Mapuche people that they would ratify UN Convention 169 of the ILO [International Labour Organisation] regarding indigenous and tribal peoples. They also failed to recognise the existence of indigenous people in the Chilean constitution. In the same way, the Chilean government has ignored basic human rights and the right of the Mapuche people to self determination, as recognised in international law.
Under this context, the Mapuche organisations have declared that if the promises are not kept by the Government then the hunger strikes will resume and protest actions will be increased until justice for the Mapuche prisoners is granted.
Mapuche International Link
