Press Release: Aquitted Mapuche Chiefs remain incarcerated
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MAPUCHE INTERNATIONAL LINK Tel/Fax: + 44-0117-9279391 |
Aquitted Mapuche Chiefs remain incarcerated
Press Release - 11 th October 2005
Anti-terrorist law is being used in Chile as a pretext for persecution, detention and incarceration of Mapuche Leaders.
After 15 years of democratic rule in Chile, human rights violations still occur on a regular basis. Human rights organizations and the UN have condemned the maltreatment of the indigenous peoples of Chile.
Mapuche chiefs Pascual Pichun and Aniceto Norin have been imprisoned for leading organizations accused of terrorist activity. These organizations are part of their ancestral tradition and are peaceful communities. The Mapuche do not use any fire arms, bombs or any other kind of weapons of mass destruction. Their protests are fair and peaceful in line with international regulations. The chiefs remain in prison, even though the Court of Appeals quashed their convictions in July this year.
They were sentenced to 5 years in prison due to an accusation made by an ex-minister who had illegally annexed the land which was later reclaimed by the Mapuche community, as is their legal right. The utilization of anti-terrorist laws undermines the legitimacy of civil and human rights. There are 12 members of the Mapuche nation currently in jail.
International Human Rights organizations have condemned the government for using Anti-terrorist laws. These laws were introduced by the military dictatorship and are still continually used against Mapuche people who suffer from the stigma associated with terrorist vocabulary.
The UN Special Rapporteur on indigenous issues, Mr. Stavenhagen, has on several occasions made recommendations about the use of these laws. However the Chilean government has yet to take action based on these recommendations.
On Tuesday the 11 th of October, the President of Chile , Ricardo Lagos will arrive in London for the launch of his new book. We wish to take this opportunity to forward a letter of concern regarding the human rights abuses in Chile which will coincide with his visit.
We at Mapuche International Link would like to suggest that as Ricardo Lagos' term of office will soon be coming to an end, he should demonstrate his commitment to democracy and to the indigenous people of Chile by granting the Mapuche chiefs amnesty.
It was not possible to arrange a meeting this week with the Ambassador of Chile, according to Mrs Berho (the Ambassadors secretary) he was too busy and so too were the embassy officials. Mr Mariqueo was surprised by this response and the apparent lack of concern for issues relating to the indigenous people of Chile , ''over the last 25 years and even during the Pinochet regime diplomatic ambassadors have always been courteous and open to receive communications with us''. At 1.30pm on Tuesday the 11 th, of October a delegation of Mapuche International Link will deliver a letter of concern to the Chilean embassy, 12 Devonshire Street, London, W1G 7DS, addressed to the Chilean President. The press and interested parties are welcome to attend.