MAPUCHE POLITICAL PRISONERS of Concepción on INDEFINITE HUNGER STRIKE

19.08.2009

- PUBLIC STATEMENT-

MAPUCHE POLITICAL PRISONERS of Concepción

(So-called Southern Chile) on

INDEFINITE HUNGER STRIKE!

THE MAPUCHE POLITICAL PRISONERS OF THE CHOQUE COMMUNITIES IN PROCESS OF TERRITORIAL RECLAMATION, IMPRISONED IN THE CONCEPCION PENETENTIARY, ANNOUNCE THAT BEGINNING TODAY TUESDAY, AUGUST 18^TH, 2009, WE WILL BEGIN AN INDEFINTE HUNGER STRIKE, WHICH WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING OBJECTIVES:

TO AVOID THE FORCED TRANSFER that is being imposed on us by the CHILEAN GOVERNMENT, through Gendarmerie (National Penitentiary Security), in conjunction with the Civil and Military courts.

With this, WE DENOUNCE that this transfer and isolation to different prisons across the country, from the cities of Rancagua to Puerto Montt, are in violation of our rights as MAPUCHE POLITICAL PRISONERS, since:

- It disables our defense

- It punishes us by separating us from our families and communities

- It provokes psychological/emotional damage to our families, especially our children.

Moreover, we manifest our objection to recur to the Courts, especially before Military Justice.

WE THEREFORE DENOUNCE:

- Not only the DOUBLE JEOPARDY of the Chilean Courts, but also the deceitful agreement between them, in order to accuse us with no proof, and convict us for many years.

- We do not recognize the competence of Military Justice to judge over civilians for its arbitrariness, bias, and lack of independence as part of the Carabineros (National Chilean Police Force), under Military conduction.

- Specifically, the Military Prosecution of [the city] of Concepción, who insists on accusing us on the basis of extrajudicial statements, obtained under torture (applied by Intelligence agents of the PDI), and with so-called “statements” by faceless witnesses.

- The continued attempt to subject us to undercover knowledge and medical examinations in order to fabricate evidence against us.

All of this is in addition to the fact that the investigation is being held in secrecy, after four months of arrest, under the application of the Anti-terrorist Law, which completely impedes the possibility of a defense.

With this action, we are in solidarity with the family and community of our Peñi [brother] Jaime Mendoza Collío as well, who was cowardly murdered by militarized police of the Chilean State.

Unto the repression, the injustices, and the judicial and political arbitrations, we will carry out our mobilization to the very end, and from now hold the authorities responsible for its ending.

We call out to our Mapuche Nation, the Chilean People, and international opinion to be in solidarity with this cause and with all the Mapuche Political Prisoners.

FREEDOM FOR ALL THE MAPUCHE POLITICAL PRISONERS!

WEUWAIÑ!!

RAMON LLANQUILEO PILQUIMAN

JOSE HUENUCHE REIMAN

LUIS MENARES CHANILAO

JONATHAN HUILLICAL MENDEZ

HECTOR LLAITUL

CESAR PARRA LEIVA

NOLBERTO PARRA LEIVA

Mapuche Political Prisoners of Concepcion Prison

Distributed By:

The Women's Coordinating Committee Chile-Canada