Dec 27, 2014

UNPO Testimonial: Mapuche Community Ablaze Prevents UNPO Fact-Finding Mission in Araucanía Region of Chile


On 12 and 13 December 2014, a UNPO representative, Ms Iva Petkovic, travelled to the Araucanía Region of Chile as part of a fact-finding mission alongside activists and students from the Mapuche Federation of Students (FEMAE). As part of the mission, two communities in the so-called 'red-zone' had agreed to host UNPO and FEMAE; the Coñomil Epuleo Lof Kolliko community and the Autonomous Community of Temukuikui.

However, alarming developments and the escalation of violence in the communities prevented the UNPO representative from visiting the communities in order to ensure the safety of the delegation, as well as the hosting Lonkos and their communities. The rise in tensions and outburst of aggression not only speak to the critical political and security situation of certain Mapuche communities, but also to the risks faced by activists and obstacles debilitating many NGOs and other organizations in reporting on the Mapuche struggle in Chile.

To facilitate the visit, the Werken of FEMAE, Mr German Caniguante, with authority within the Mapuche movement and leadership within the Mapuche student movement, had direct and regular on-the-ground contact with the two communities, which is how UNPO became aware of the sudden, but sadly unsurprising deterioration of the security situation security in the Autonomous Community of Temukuikui.

 

In the evening of 12 December 2014, before traveling to Ercilla, we received a call from the Werken of the Autonomous Community of Temukuikui informing us that the already tense situation had drastically exacerbated. Earlier that day, the community was once again intentionally attacked with incendiary devices resulting in the burning of Lonko Victor Keipul's house, a ranch, and a part of reforested land (land upon which the community replanted native trees), and was followed by the detention of some community members.

 

 

It is not known who the perpetrators were, but the Werken of the community, Jorge Huenchullán, had conceded that his suspicions lie with local farmers and members of an anti-Mapuche group called “Command Trizano”.

 

The unfortunate developments generated police and military deployment in the territory, leaving Mapuche communities near the city of Ercilla practically isolated for almost three days. As a consequence, we were also informed that we would be unable to visit the community, as the Lonko Victor Keipul, who had kindly agreed to host us, would not be able to leave his community to meet us in Ercilla and accompany us to his home. Doing so would leave members of his community, particularly those regularly persecuted by the State of Chile, vulnerable to police and military intrusions in such tumultuous times.

 

 

The Autonomous Community of Temucuicui is located a few kilometres from the agricultural city of Ercilla, and as a result of territorial claims, has historically been one of the most mobilized within the 'red zone' of the Mapuche conflict. 

 

In the struggle to recover their ancestral territories and to fully enjoy their land rights, many Mapuche communities are regularly affected by violent police incursions, arbitrary detentions and an alarming militarization of the Chilean police.  

 

Despite the fact that Chile is not in a state of war, nor is it under attack by guerrillas or terrorist cells, it continues to apply the Anti-Terrorist Law against members of the Mapuche communities in military tribunals. The constant and disproportionate judicial persecution is a reminder that Chile falls short of international human rights standards, including ILO Convention 169, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the UN Convention against Torture and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

 

Photos taken from Cronicas and Maricheweu International.

aricheweu Internationa