NEWS RELEASE posted on October 8, 2010 by Guadillen

Public Statement by the Mapuche Prisoners of Angol: “This Hunger Strike has to do with What We Expect for the Future of Our People."

by Mapuche Prisoners of Angol

Free Mapuche Political Prisoners

October 3rd, 2010
The Mapuche Political Prisoners of Angol Prison state the following unto the Mapuche communities, organizations, and general public opinion:

Being conscious of the fact that the Mapuche hunger strikers of Concepcion and Temuco prisoner have decide to end their hunger strike initiated 83 days ago, and that such act is due to an agreement signed with the government, we have decided to maintain our hunger strike based on the following arguements:

- The agreement that the Government has promoted reforms the Antiterrorist Law and Military Justice. This change is part of a government program to “respond to the democratic convictions and principles as stated in our judicial establishment, which is inspired by our Constitutional Acts, norms of international law, and Treaty 169 of the ILO, as well as other international organizations.” This is completely false. The reforms proposed by the government continue going against fundamental human rights, including the right to due process, the right to privacy and the right to defense.

With respect to Military Justice, the reform only seeks the benefits of those in uniform, since the sentences committed against them have been incremented, thereby giving them more protection to act with impunity as that have currently carried out within Mapuche communities. In regards to the Antiterrorist Law, the modifications tend to perfect its application and there are no guarantees that it may once again be applied to Mapuche social protest, as recommended by James Anaya, Special UN envoy for indigenous issues.

- The charges dropped by the Military do not change in any way the current procedural situation of the hunger strikers. In that respect, the Prosecutors Office should pronounce itself on the charges that continue being set against our Peñi [brothers], in the sense of publically clarifying the current charges under the Antiterrorist Law be changed to those typified under common indictable charges. In regards to the Executive power, this act can only be seen as a sign of good will.

- We do not agree with the maintenance of protected witness in the modifications made by the government and which entails undercover agents and informants. Said figures continue acting against the right to due process, since the majority of the evidence against us stems from the use of these faceless witnesses, who are criminals in their own right, as they assure to have participated in the events being tried, having been paid by the Public Ministry (or Prosecutor’s Office). There is much doubt as to the impartiality and veracity of their testimony. In Malleco Territory, these protected witnesses have been known to accuse people arbitrarily, especially in regard to emblematic Mapuche families within the territorial struggle.

- We lament that the Mapuche Political Prisoners of Concepcion and Temuco did not have clarity and the sufficient Newen [Energy] to continue the mobilization. We do not share their position, but we respect it.

- We clarify unto public opinion that this mobilization never had a judicial end, in regards to the Mapuche Political Prisoners of Angol. Independent of the fact that we expect a just and fair trial where our innocence is proven, the point of the hunger strike has to do with what we expect for the future of our Mapuche Nation.

The different Mapuche communities will continue struggling for the right to their territory, they will continue defending the right to live as Mapuche and will negate themselves to be assimilated by Chilean culture, which will carry out further conflicts with the Chilean Justice system.
Due to these motives, we have decided to maintain our hunger strike to the final consequence, so that the State may solve the initial points of the mobilization.

We call out to all Mapuche organizations and communities, as international organizations to continue supporting the hunger strike.

Jose Queipul Huiaquil, Angol Prison
Victor Llanquileo, Angol Prison
Fernando Millacheo Marin, Angol Prison
Felipe Huenchullan Cayul, Hospital of Victoria
Victor Hugo Queipul Millanao, Hospital of Victoria
Huaikilaf Cadin Calfunao, Hospital of Victoria
Camilo Tori Quiñinao, Hospital of Victoria
Alex Curipan Levipan, Hospital of Victoria
Eduardo Oses Moreno, Hospital of Victoria
Carlos Huiaquillan Palacio, Hospital of Victoria

Mapuche Political Prisoners of Angol Prison
Hospital of Victoria [so-called southern Chile]

Distributed By:
The Women’s Coordinating Committee For a Free Wallmapu [Toronto]
www.nobicentenaryonmapucheterritory.wordpress.com
Email: wccc_98@hotmail.com