Mapuche Political Prisoners on Indefinite Hunger Strike: “We risk our lives to guarantee our freedom.”

Women’s Coordinating Committee for a Free Wallampu, June 7, 2017

Mapuche Political Prisoners, in so-called southern Chile, prosecuted in relation to Luchsinger Mackay case in the prison of Temuco communicate the following:

On Monday, May 29^th, 2017, we have begun a hunger strike as a last recourse of resistance within political prison to demand and pressure authorities for due process in our cases.

Chile: Court Partially Annuls Conviction against Mapuche on Hunger Strike

Wednesday, October 24^th, 2012

The Chilean Supreme Court decided to annul part of the trial that in August convicted two Mapuche community members that have been on hunger strike for 60 days in Angol Prison.

The President of the Criminal Court of the maximum tribunal of Chile, Milton Juica, explained that in the case of Daniel Levinao Montoya, the court unanimously ordered to annul the sentence of attempted murder against General Ivan Bezmalinovic, but confirms the conviction for illegal possession of a weapon.

Chilean police clash with protesters during Mapuche march

By By Luis Andres Henao, The Associated Press, October 15, 2012

Militants attack police armoured vehicle in Santiago, Chile, during a protest in support of Mapuche land struggles and political prisoners on hunger strike, Oct 15, 2012.

SANTIAGO, Chile – Chilean police on Monday clashed with hooded vandals who infiltrated a protest by Mapuche Indians demanding land rights and autonomy.

Police shot tear gas and water cannons when the demonstration by 3,000 Mapuches in Chile’s capital turned violent. Sixteen people were arrested.

Mapuches rushed to hospital after 45-day hunger strike in Chile

By Gwynne Hogan, Santiago Times, Thursday, 11 October 2012

Four Mapuche youth on hunger strike.

Amnesty International warns force feeding Mapuche political prisoners would be breach of human rights.

After being rushed to a hospital Wednesday night, the fate of four indigenous hunger strikers now hangs on a decision by the Court of Appeals on whether authorities will be allowed to force feed them. At the time of publication, the protesters were in critical condition in a hospital in Concepción, 310 miles south of Santiago.