Mapuche Community Members Investigated

 
 
Today, four names were released by the Chilean Public Ministry as possible authors of the arson on logging machinery in the Padre Las Casas township. The Anti-Terrorist Law was announced as a possible means of laying charges that would amplify the resources of the investigation.
 
Sergio Moya points out that despite the fact that no one has been identified in the arson attack, "there are records that allow us to suspect specific people in our investigation."
 
According to Austral newspaper, the anti-Mapuche prosecutor Sergio Moya is investigating four people that are linked to the Arauco Malleco Coordinating Committee, including Hector Lliatul, Roberto Painemil, Luis Trancal Quidel and Ernesto Chachallao.
 
Lliatul's wife, Pamela Pezoa sustained that days ago Hector was intercepted by Intelligence personnel from Lebu township as he left his house in Tirua, together with his son. At that time, they intimidated him by asking if he had any outstanding business with the Justice system, then immediately searched his knapsack.
Pezoa sustained that her spouse had been working in the area of Tirua (VIII Region) in the last few weeks, and had no relation to what happened in Padre Las Casas, located in the IX Region, after being consulted over the prosecutor Moya's investigation against Lliatul.
 
Investigation
 
Meanwhile, the Public Ministry restated that the acts on the logging estate of Santa Elena was of "terrorist conduct" for its alleged intention of "causing fear among the population." This allows the investigation to be extended to six months, protect or change the identity of the witnesses and intercept communications.
 
So far, the sole witness the prosecutor can rely upon would be the guard of the estate, who gave the descriptions of the suspects and their manner of operation.
 
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
 
Distributed by: The Women's Coordinating Committee Chile-Canada
email: wccc_98@hotmail.com