Open Letter from the Mapuche Political Prisoners in Concepción Penitentiary

 

Open Letter from the Mapuche Political Prisoners in Concepción Penitentiary

It has been a while since we began conversations and discussions to better understand our reality as a People, in order to state the necessary national reconstruction and begin to raise hope, avoiding the forced integration to winka (white) society; corrupted by individualism.

We must fight against its intolerance and it uncompromising attitude so that they will accept, sooner or later, our legitimate right to reclaim our ancient territories and attain freedom as the Mapuche Nation.

At this time, our Wallmapu (Mapuche territory) has the urgent necessity to walk through its own path, where we are the builders of our future.

The winka oppressor has continuously made us accept living in misery; they have stolen almost everything from us, but today, they come to take all we have left. They want to keep fostering transnational corporations throughout all Wallmapu; today, there are hydroelectric centers in development, there are geothermic power suppliers in Bulalelbun, we have an airport in Makehue and the shoreline highway continues expanding towards the south.

On lake Lleu-Lleu, the situation is so serious that 80% of fresh water is owned by Endesa Energy Inc., and 75% of the lake's shoreline is in the hands of private forestry corporations and estate owners. Moreover, mining projects continue under development and no one raises their voice.

In seeing this reality approximately 12 years ago, we began to create a real political project. However, we found that a few Lonkos (Chiefs) had already taken on defeat, and began to say they continued their struggle in order to benefit off NGO funding, which was given to appease the undeniable conflict. There were others that simply had placed themselves at service of the oppressors, conforming themselves with the scraps the government in turn or the rich would throw at them.

They questioned us and they still question us saying that they do not agree with the use of violence, but from behind bars we say that we are not violent; we simply take the right to defend ourselves. They have killed a few of our Weichafe (warriors), they have incarcerated others, not because we have committed a crime, but because we seek a real political project where we Mapuche have been its conductors; there are no winka here.

No one can deny that this political project has been propelled and lead by the Arauco Malleco communities in conflict, predominantly organized in the CAM (Arauco Malleco Coordinating Committee).

Today we have a question to ask our people: what is going on with our Lonkos? Have they settled for those so-called projects? Where are the Mapuche professionals? Are they satisfied with their job as functionaries of the CONADI (Organization for Indigenous Development) and other government projects?

Our Wechekeche (youth) have already tasted wine at 14 years of age, they have gone to school and no longer want to work the land, and have turned themselves into so-called "pokemones," stupid fads of fashion.

With respect, we ask our Machi (medicine women): do you think its right for the CONAF (State Forest Ministry) to authorize your use of lawen (herbs), when they're taking your Manoko?

Perhaps they may say that we are arrogant, but keep in mind that we struggle for all our People, and we will take on this political incarceration with dignity, and are willing to die in the process.

How many more must die by their backs? How many more must stand jail so we can rise up? It the blood and sweat we have scattered throughout Wallmapu not enough?

To our Mapuche People in general, keep in mind that if we don not struggle today, we will have no future tomorrow. To our jailed Weichafe (warriors) , we say that they may stop us from walking through the hills and mountains, but our dreams of freedom and National Liberation freely navigate throughout all of Wallmapu.

Stop the Repression! Stop the Repression!

Freedom for All the Mapuche Political Prisoners!

For the National Mapuche Reconstruction!

For Our Dead.... Freedom or Death!!

Mapuche Political Prisoners of Concepción Penitentiary

April 2009

Distributed by: The Women's Coordinating Committee Chile-Canada [Toronto]

Email: wccc_98@hotmail.com