Mapuche hunger striker suffers heart attack in Temuco

October 21, 2012

The member of the community Chequenco, Leonardo Quijón, was rushed to the Hospital of Temuco tonight after suffering a heart problem, at fulfilling 21 days on hunger strike, and since Friday even without consuming water.

As reported by community leaders, Leonardo suffered severe chest pains that were due to a complication of tachycardia, which has resulted in a cardiac arrest.

Remember that Leonardo Quijón, The member of the community Chequenco, Leonardo Quijón, was rushed at Hospital of tonight after suffering Temuco a heart problem, at fulfilling 21 days on hunger strike, and since Friday even without consuming water.

As reported by community leaders, Leonardo suffered severe chest pains that were due to a complication of tachycardia, which has resulted in a cardiac arrest.

Remember that Leonardo Quijón, as a minor was shot by police in the Ercilla in October 2009, suffering severely wounded the persecution of the state linking him to alleged actions against entrepreneurs, accusations of which he was acquitted, twice. 

See:  http://maricheweuinternational.blogspot.nl/2012/08/words-of-young-mapuche-leonardo-quijon.html
        http://maricheweuinternational.blogspot.nl/2012/08/case-of-mapuche-minor-leonardo-quijon-p.html
        http://maricheweuinternational.blogspot.nl/2012/08/case-of-minor-mapuche-leonardo-quijon.html 

But before being declared innocent, he had to spend several months in prison and wounded faced an earlier hunger strike in 2010. Now he is persecuted and imprisoned again for another reason, taking on another hunger strike, now without drinking, with an already deteriorating health.

Diagnosis uncertain

Around midnight, the young hunger striker was returned to the prison in Temuco by Gendarmes, held in the prison infirmary after he refused to certain tests, apparently unnecessary. 

He underwent an electrocardiogram, which has shown favorable results, but still visibly in a critical state of health. He was not clearheaded at the moment of the examination, reported the spokespersons Carola and Freddy Marileo.

Gendarmes and the attending doctor, named Ortiz, refused to provide information to the families and leaders.

"The relatives and communities hold the Government responsible for the consequences that are already beginning to show in the health of the Mapuche political prisoners on the dry hunger strike", warned the leaders.