Jose Llanquileo, environmental rights activist and “Werken” or messenger for the Juana Millahual Community in Chile has just concluded a successful trip to Brussels where he was able to raise public awareness of the concerns facing his community. During his stay from 7 - 9 November he met with a number of MEPs and advisors to discuss the environmental impact of both national and international companies in the area surrounding the once pristine Lake Lleu Lleu.

The area, which is rich in natural resources, is also home to 23 Mapuche communities. Traditionally a collective society, the communities have shared the land and the lake for farming, hunting, and fishing. Under the Pinochet dictatorship all land was privatized and many Mapuche families were evicted from their homes, making it easier to sell large sections to forestry, hydroelectric, and mining companies which still own these lands. Today 80% of the Lake Lleu Lleu region is in the hands of foreign hydroelectric companies, while forestry plantations located on the shores have been draining the water table causing harmful effects on the soil.

The recent discovery of uranium, lithium, scandium, and other sought after minerals has prompted new mining companies to begin exploration of the area without consulting the local Mapuche population, despite the harmful effects these toxic elements could have on the water, atmosphere, and health of local residents. These companies have ignored their responsibility to ensure minimal environmental impact, and the state has failed to uphold its promises to protect indigenous rights in the ratification of ILO Convention 169.  

Mr. Llanquileo’s visit comes as Mapuche rights are gaining fresh momentum in Brussels following the conference, ‘The Mapuche in Chile,’ held in March 2011.  The event was the first time European officials have gathered to speak exclusively on the situation facing the Indigenous group. This public eye on the Mapuche question has led MEPs from across the political spectrum to offer support to the Mapuche cause, many being particularly concerned by the actions of European companies in the area, causing them to raise important questions before the European institutions.

These initiatives anticipate the European Parliament’s visit to Santiago in 2012 and the growing belief that a mechanism is necessary to ensure European companies follow environmental standards beyond the borders of the EU.  The question increasingly being raised concerns what actions the EU can take to encourage Chile to protect the rights and well-being of indigenous communities by regulating national extractive industries. 

These issues and others are expected to be the focus of UNPO supported initiatives in Spring 2012 on corporate responsibility, and the 2014 review of Chile under the United Nations Human Rights Council’s Periodic Review mechanism. The success of his visit will also help to raise general public awareness of the Mapuche situation, and bolster the work being done on a three year project undertaken by UNPO in association with the Nando Peretti Foundation to promote the preservation of local culture in Mapuche communities.