<html>
<body>
<font size=3><br>
Four Mapuche Hunger Strikers - fight for life<br><br>
2nd of May 2006<br><br>
Today, Tuesday May 2nd, marks the 50th day of the hunger strike for
the<br>
Mapuche political prisoners Patricia Troncoso, Juan Huenulao,
Patricio<br>
Marileo and Jaime Marileo. Their health is now seriously
deteriorating,<br>
they are experiencing considerable weight loss (have each lost 20
kilos),<br>
their basic bodily functions are begining to fail, they are
currently<br>
falling in and out of consciousness and are periodically unable to
speak.<br><br>
The four political prisoners protest was initiated to bring about
the<br>
revision of their sentence, by virtue of the questionable integrity of
the<br>
legal process that brought about this ruling under the anti-terrorist
law<br>
passed by the Pinochet regime, which allows charges to be passed
against<br>
the accused based on the testimonies of unidentified witnesses.<br>
Furthermore they aim to bring about the immediate release of all
Mapuche<br>
political prisoners.<br><br>
The Chilean anti-terrorist law established during the Pinochet<br>
dictatorship, had until yesterday been utilised under the current
system<br>
of government against Mapuches whose protest is peaceful and in
compliance<br>
with democratic principles. The application of this legislation has
been<br>
repeatedly condemned by the U.N Special Rapporteur for Indigenous
peoples<br>
Rodolfo Stavenhagen; the recommendations made in his criticism of
the<br>
Chilean government have been further endorsed by numerous
international<br>
human rights organisations.<br><br>
On April 29th the families of those on hunger strike protested
peacefully<br>
against the failure of the Chilean government to respond to the
situation,<br>
by occupying the prison in Angol where their family members are
detained,<br>
for a period of six hours. Subsequently, the Chilean government has<br>
responded by promising to abstain from applying the anti-terrorist
law<br>
against Mapuches in the future. Nevertheless, the hunger strike
continues.<br><br>
A number of demonstrations have taken place across Chile over the past
few<br>
weeks, in support of the hunger strikers, which have been violently<br>
suppressed by the Chilean police resulting in the injury and detention
of<br>
many more Mapuche. The demonstrations have taken place amidst a
national<br>
news blackout which occurs as a result of official bias within media<br>
corporations; many media corporate members have affiliations with
the<br>
trans-national forestry companies whose interests are in conflict
with<br>
those of Mapuche activists who wish to preserve the integrity of the<br>
environment and their ancestral land.<br><br>
The response of the Chilean authorities has been one of silence; we
find<br>
this reaction unfortunate as many government officials, including
the<br>
current President Michelle Bachelet, were themselves the subject of<br>
oppression under the former Chilean dictatorship. It remains to be
seen<br>
whether or not the government stays true to its most recent promise
in<br>
relation to the application of the anti-terrorist law or if it will<br>
continue to sanction the use of such repressive laws against the
Mapuche<br>
people.<br><br>
On April 28th 2006 Mapuche International Link relayed a letter
addressed<br>
to the Chilean President expressing their deep concern for the health
and<br>
wellbeing of the Mapuche hunger strikers. The statement reads,
"The<br>
Chilean judicial system does not allow Mapuches guarantee of a fair<br>
trial.” In addition it states that:<br><br>
"Today in the Chilean democracy there are Mapuche seeking
political<br>
asylum, fugitives from justice whilst others have renounced their
Chilean<br>
nationality - and as a consequence today 4 Mapuche leaders are on a
hunger<br>
strike that has already lasted 47 days.”<br><br>
Another statement sent by a Mapuche organisation from Argentina
reads:<br><br>
"Please do not let them die; on Friday the 28th of April demonstrate
to<br>
the Chilean government that we are not indifferent to the injustices
being<br>
committed and that there are no borders which could prevent solidarity.
We<br>
convey a 24-hour vigil for the 'guardians of the land', to maintain
alive<br>
the flame of hope and dreams everywhere. Their physical resistance
becomes<br>
weaker with the passing of each day but their spiritual strength and
their<br>
resolve grows steadily stronger." Argentinian Mapuches are
currently<br>
occupying the Chilean consulate in Barriloche and demanding freedom
for<br>
the prisoners.<br><br>
The prisoners are considering giving up liquids completely and going on
a<br>
"dry" hunger strike. There doctor, Juan Carlos Reinao Marilao,
says they<br>
will die within six days if they give up liquids.<br><br>
For further information contact:<br><br>
Mapuche International Link<br>
e-mail: mapulink@mapuche-nation.org<br>
Tel: 011 7 927 2391<br>
<a href="http://www.mapuche-nation.org/" eudora="autourl">
http://www.mapuche-nation.org<br>
</a>
<a href="http://www.mapuche-nation.org/english/news.htm" eudora="autourl">
http://www.mapuche-nation.org/english/news.htm</a> GO TO THIS LINK AND
SIGN<br>
THE ONLINE PETITION!<br><br>
<br>
</font><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<font size=3 color="#FF0000">The Freedom Archives<br>
522 Valencia Street<br>
San Francisco, CA 94110<br>
(415) 863-9977<br>
</font><font size=3>
<a href="http://www.freedomarchives.org/" eudora="autourl">
www.freedomarchives.org</a></font></body>
</html>