[Ppnews] International Campaign To Support Mapuche Political Prisoners On Hunger Strike In Chile

[Political Prisoner News]

International Campaign To Support Mapuche Political Prisoners On 
Hunger Strike In Chile

August 3, 2010
Translated from Spanish
http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6142:international-campaign-to-support-mapuche-political-prisoners-on-hunger-strike-in-chile&catid=53:south-america-indigenous-peoples&Itemid=75

Mapuche organizations and solidarity of Europe and North America

As of July 12, 2010 thirty-one Mapuche are on hunger strike in 
prisons of Concepcion, Valdivia, Temuco Lebu. Mapuche political 
prisoners on hunger strike demanding the right to fair trials, the 
application of an objective and impartial justice and in particular 
the repeal of the Patriot Act.

The fact that indigenous political prisoners are forced to drastic 
action due to the fact that in the course of the last decade 
No.18.314 the Terrorism Act, "enacted during the Pinochet 
dictatorship - applies only against political leaders and Mapuche. 
The repeal of this law is required by much of the International 
System of Human Rights that stands between the Ethics Commission 
Against Torture, whose report was discussed by the Committee on 
Elimination of Racial Discrimination United Nations in August 2009.

The implementation of the Patriot Act is a violation of human rights 
of citizens exercising their right to protest, demanding the right of 
ownership over their ancestral lands, demand respect for their way of 
life and cultural identity. The Human Rights Council of the UN, 
several Special Reports, has recommended the non-application of the 
Patriot Act to the activities and protests and claims of the Mapuche 
people. These recommendations say that implementation of this law 
does not guarantee a fair trial and provide background information on 
where these rights are violated. It highlights the use of faceless 
witnesses, keeping the accused in custody indefinitely, and to 
subject the accused to trial-by dual civilian and military justice, 
at the same time.

In Chile during the decade of ethnic persecution takes alarming 
proportions. At this time, 37 Mapuche political leaders are in prison 
in various prisons in southern Chile. Of these 28 prisoners are 
indicted or convicted by the anti-terrorism law. In total there are 
60 community members who are in prison or on parole for a sentence or 
injunctive relief. Three Mapuche have had to seek political refuge in 
Argentina (2) and Switzerland and five Mapuche have died as a result 
of the shooting and torture by the Chilean police.

The executive and legislative branch representatives of Chile are 
required to initiate a dialogue process with political prisoners on 
hunger strike. It is necessary to rectify the discriminatory policy 
applied to the historic demands of the Mapuche people of Chile that 
the State continues to violate. The Chilean state has an obligation 
to comply with the obligations it has signed international 
instruments, such as ILO Convention 169., The UN Declaration on the 
Rights of Indigenous Peoples and end the repression and persecution 
of Mapuche leaders praise. "

Make the following points.

Mapuche organizations and solidarity of Europe and North America 
express our support for the Mapuche political prisoners on hunger 
strike. We support their demands for justice in order to:
    * Term of institutionalized violence and repeal of the Patriot Act
    * End the policy of militarization of the Mapuche areas,
    * Ensuring respect for the guarantees of due process and freedom 
of the Mapuche political prisoners currently incarcerated.
    * Repeal of the system of "double simultaneous trials" before 
military tribunals and civil courts. Guarantees of defense of the accused.
    * Political rights and territorial autonomy and self 
determination. Rights under the United Nations Declaration on the 
Rights of Indigenous Peoples, ratified by Chile on September 13, 2007.
    * Reaffirm that the Mapuche nation is in the legitimate right to 
fight for recovery and reconstruction of its historic territory 
usurped by the Chilean State. Territories formally recognized in 
international treaties by the Spanish Empire and the rule of Chile.
    * Communicate that we continue our work of denunciation of the 
Chilean State and its racist policy of repression against the Mapuche nation.

If you want to join and express their solidarity Click Here 
International Campaign to support political prisoners on hunger 
strike in Chile <http://mapuche.info/?lp_1>http://mapuche.info/?lp_1




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