MAPUCHE POLITICAL PRISONERS on DRY HUNGER STRIKE

MAPUCHE POLITICAL PRISONERS on DRY HUNGER STRIKE

Mapuche political prisoners Jaime Marileo, Patricia Troncoso, Juan Millalen, Hector LLaitul and Jose Huenchunao, secluded in the jail of Angol (southern Chile), have commenced a dry hunger strike on the evening of October 10, 2007. The Hunger strike began when over 20 family members were visiting their relatives, protested and refused to leave. They left only after conversations with the Justice Minister of the region, Cristian Dulansky.

Angelica Ñancupil, spokesperson for the political prisoners states that "the objective of the hunger strike is to demand the freedom of all the Mapuche Political Prisoners, as well as denouncing the harassment and militarization of the Mapuche Territories. Moreover, this action looks to denounce the framing that has been implemented to condemn our people of different crimes."

In beginning the hunger strike, the Mapuche Political Prisoners mentioned above in the jail of Angol, gave the following press release:

"We the Mapuche Political Prisoners in the Jail of Angol would like to inform the public and the Mapuche People the following.....

We have initiated an undefined Dry Hunger Strike as of today, October 10, 2007, until reaching the following objectives:

1. Freedom for all the Mapuche Political Prisoners incarcerated by the Chilean State.

2. The Demilitarization of the zones in conflict and an end to the repression against Mapuche communities.

We initiate this present mobilization with pride and with "Trawun," today joined by our families, communities and groups of support."

MARRICHIWEU, WEUAIÑ !!!

Patricia Troncoso Robles
Héctor LLaitul Carillanca
Jose Huenchunao Mariñan
Jaime Marileo Saravia
Juan Millalen Milla

Jail of Angol, Chile - October 10, 2007