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SAMPLE LETTER Date: Dear Mr President:
We have recently been informed of the violent attack against the Mapuche Pewenche Communities of Alto Bio Bio in the VIII Region of Chile. This attack was carried out by Carabineros (Chilean Police) on 5 March 2002. At this moment 44 men and 11 women are being held in various detention centres in the City of Chillán, Province of Ñuble. They are being questioned by a Military Tribunal under the direction of Mr. Ivan Santivañez.Information received indicates that the detainees were maltreated by the Police, and many were injured when apprehended. They have subsequently been denied medical treatment. We condemn these acts of violence and the actions of the police which contravene the basic human rights and fundamental freedom of the Mapuche people . We support the demands of the Mapuche-Pewenche to stop the construction of the Ralco Dam based on their inalienable Right to live in peace and without interference on their ancestral territories, as guaranteed under both International Humanitarian Law and the Chilean Indigenous Law 19.253 We request a full investigation into the police attack against unarmed civilians, and we demand that the Chilean Government respect the families' decision to oppose the construction of the Ralco Dam in the Bio Bio river. Finally, we would like to inform you that we will continue to follow Events Calendar in Chile and will inform the International Human Rights' organizations of any cases of provocation such as desecration of Mapuche sacred sites and violation of the Mapuche people's rights. Sincerely; Signature Please send copies to: Pdte. Mario Garrido Montt Corte Suprema Fax: 56- 2-6985526 Sr. Guillermo Piedrabuena Fiscal Nacional Fax: + 56 2 870 52 32 To obtain details on how, where and to whom to send your letters of protest, |