Public Statement by young Mapuche Political Prisoner Cristian Levinao Melinao from the prison of Angol, Chile

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Cristian Levinao Melinao, young Mapuche community member, being held in the prison of Angol, belonging to the community Rayen Mapu of the sector Chiguayhue, commune of Ercilla, addresses the Mapuche and non-Mapuche of Chile and the rest of the world to inform and to denounce the following:

This April 24 at 9:30 am a hearing will take place for the preparation of oral proceedings in the court of Collipulli for a cause, of which I am unjustly accused, the "Arson Attack on Forestry Cautin".  
Which occurred on October 28, 2011 at 8:00 PM, located in the area Chiguayhue.
 
I make it known that at the time the incident occurred I was several miles distant of the sector, since that day I went out at 6:00 AM from the Collipulli Detention Center where I was to meet the requirements of another cause. Then at 7:15 pm I took a bus from the company Bio-Bio towards Pidima arriving at my house at 10:30 hrs. Which is 3 hours (walking) from the place where the events occurred (plots No. 15 and 16 Requén). 

In this case, they only impute me for having previous causes of which I have even been acquitted, facts that prove the existence of a constant persecution not only to me but also to my family, Rodrigo Melinao Lican and Javier Levinao Esparza. Note that the latter also was acquitted in previous cases.

The case of "Arson Attack on Forestry Cautin" has gone on for about 1 year and 6 months of research where the Public Prosecutor Chamorro and the Prosecution although they have not implemented the Anti-Terrorism Act, continue to use the same strategy that involves the use secret witnesses and protected witnesses even if it is considered to be for common cases. 

Along with the above I denounce the lack of thoroughness in the investigation by the Prosecutor, PDI and police, who in order to keep their jobs, apply a repressive policy of the State which seeks to get results through the media and to charge and imprison innocent people, only for having a previous history associated with territorial recovery processes.

Freedom for the Mapuche Political Prisoners!!!!
An end to the malicious prosecutions!!!!
Demilitarization of the Mapuche communities!!!! 

Cristian Levinao Melinao
Community Rayen Mapu 

Daniel Melinao, Werken of the Mapuche community Wente Winkul Mapu, was arrested, Chile

April 25, 2013

After a violent raid by military personnel from the PDI and militarized police to his home and community on this Thursday morning the Werkén Daniel Melinao, of the community Wente Winkul Mapu, Lof Chekenco of Ercilla was arrested in an Internet café.

About the raid on the house, Werkén Luis Melinao, brother of Daniel Melinao, said "They did not let us draw closer, they pointed their shotguns at us, they threw me to the ground and my dad, my mom and my brother, who were there and wanted to witness the search of the house because it has always happened that they end up planting anything there.", adding that the arrest of the Werkén Daniel Melinao is another assault by the State to criminalize the Mapuche people.

The Mapuche leader is held to be involved in the death of Gope sergeant Hugo Albornoz, who was the victim of a shot fired over a year ago during an attack on the community and according to all the evidence gathered in the investigation, one that came out of a police weapon.

The operation by the prosecutor Luis Chamorro and the top bosses of the militarized police and Investigations in La Araucanía, left extensive damage to the homes of the community. While Daniel Melinao was taken to hospital in Angol to document his injuries and then referred to the Court of Collipulli for control of the detention and possible formalization.

The Werkén has led the worthy territorial recovery process of the community Wente Winkul Mapu, which, since its establishment, has been noted for its daily efforts of autonomous work, away from all projects and deceptions by the Chilean State, facing constant police attacks and besieging by armed individuals.  

No doubt we are facing a new setup by the police, the prosecution and the economic interests in Mapuche territory, who only seek to intimidate the fighting spirit of the communities in resistance.

It is hoped that the Werkén will be released soon, as the past few months have shown this political persecution to result in the acquittal of almost all the community members that have been arrested of this community, for example, in the recent mistrial against two Mapuche youths for lack of evidence. 

Two more arrested while Daniel Melinao was formalized in the Court of Collipulli

Outside the court of Collipulli, after Daniel Melinao was formalized as a co-author of the murder of Sergeant Albornoz, Victor Queipul, the Lonko of the Community of Temucuicui, and, Luis Melinao, the second Werkén of the Community Wente Winkul Mapu, brother of Daniel Melinao, were arrested and brutally beaten. Whereby Luis Melinao lost some of its teeth. They will be taken to Angol and tomorrow they will be formalized in Collipulli for assault of a police officer, as we are told by Maria Montoya (mother of Erick Montoya).

At this time lawyers are inquiring after the current situation of the detainees, lots of people are on the outskirts of the police station of the city of Collipulli. Jorge Huenchullan, Werkén of the community Autonomous Temucuicui, notes that, without any justification police officers of special forces arrested the Lonko. This is clearly an open provocation and harassment to stop the solidarity and support that is offered to Werkén Daniel Melinao.

Supreme Court declares a mistriall against Mapuche Political Prisoners from Wente Winkul Mapu. New trial should be performed, Chile

Source: http://meli.mapuches.org/spip.php?article2957
Monday April 22, 2013
By Communications Commission / / Campaign to Free All Mapuche Political Prisoners

Today the Supreme Court delivered the verdict on the appeal filed by the defense of the Mapuche political prisoners from the community Winkul Wente Mapu, who had been sentenced to six years in prison in a flawed trial in which were not even respected the rules of due process.

At such injustice, the community decided to demand the release of the brothers and the Supreme Court had no choice but to declare a mistrial, following the serious and gross defects that harmed our brethren.

Now there should be performed a new trial, before a different court, so as to ensure the impartiality and objectivity of the judges, a feature that is difficult to meet as they are under pressure by the central power.

This shows the state's policy of creating baseless prosecutions to imprison Mapuche, a policy carried out in practice by the anti-Mapuche prosecutor Luis Chamorro in collusion with the courts.

Stop the judicial political setups!
Freedom for the Mapuche political prisoners!
Marrichiweu!!!! 

Note: Rodrigo Montoya is still on hunger strike, now 55 days, in the prison of Angol and Erick Montoya is still living in clandestinity.   

Updated List of Mapuche Political Prisoners, Chile

Friday April 19, 2013
By Commission of Communications / / Campaign to Free All Political Prisoners Mapuche
Source: http://meli.mapuches.org/spip.php?article2956

* Mapuche Informative Extract, distributed April 17, the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, in Event held in Santiago.

Today April 17, various Peoples and communities in conflict around the world claim the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, an initiative that emerged in 2005 in Euskal Herria (Basque Country), in order to denounce the situation facing thousands of men and women, social activists, who are imprisoned by the capitalist states. 

As Mapuche victims of the Chilean state oppression, we join this call and denounce the situation of being Political Prisoners faced by 28 of our brothers and sisters who suffer overcrowding, illegal transfers to other prisons without informing their families, abuse and racial abuse by the Prison staff during visits.

HUNGER STRIKE

On Thursday, February 28, 2013, the Mapuche political prisoner Rodrigo Montoya Melinao took the drastic step of starting a new liquid hunger strike because of the unfair sentence imposed on him by the Court of Collipulli, that by means of faceless witness statements managed to condemn our Peñi.

Through a statement, the Peñi said: "I denounce the persecution of my family and the irregularity of the trial that was held against me where there was a clear manipulation of evidence and therefore constituted a violation of due process because the evidence presented was not sufficient to convict me, and the political pressure to intimidate me was felt. "

This shows the racism and double standard of Chilean Justice, who uses the full force of its laws to prosecute and condemn our Pu Peñi (brothers) confronting the capitalist power.

The demands of the Peñi are:

1. - Cancellation of the flawed ruling and wrongful conviction.

2. - No more anonymous witnesses in trials against Mapuche.

3. - An end to the judicial-political setups and Freedom for all Mapuche political prisoners.

Mobilization of Support in Santiago

A result of all this is that our organization in coordination with the Community Wente Winkul Mapu, convene a Meeting in Santiago, awaiting the decision of the judges of the Supreme Court, on Monday April 22, from 13:00 hours., outside the Supreme Court (Banners and Company) .

Updated List of Mapuche Political Prisoners

Concessioned Prison "Llancahue" of VALDIVIA (Los Pelues S / N, Isla Teja)

1. - Francisco Facundo Jones Huala / Nahuel Huapi Lafken, Villa La Angostura, Argentina.

2. - Cristian Ignacio García Quintul / Indigenous Association Newen Yifken, Sector Pichi Pelluco, Puerto Montt.

3. - Machi Millaray Virginia Huichalaf Pradines / Sector El Roble-Carimallin.

Center for Deprivation of Liberty (CPL) of CHOL CHOL (km 1 way to Chol Chol s / n)

4. - Gabriel Augusto Montoya Valenzuela / Community Wente Winkul Mapu, Ercilla.

Prison Detention Center (CPC) of Temuco (Av Balmaceda N º 450)

5. - Machi Celestino Cerafín Córdova Tránsito / Community Juan Quintupil, Vilcún.

6. - Fénix Aquiles Delgado Ahumada / Temuco Warria.

Preventive Detention Center (CDP) of ANGOL (Los Confines S / N) 

7. - Jonathan Sady Huillical Mendez / De Icalma / With daily leave.

8. - Lorenzo Alex Curipán Levipan / Community Rankilko, / With Sunday leave.   

9. - Luis Humberto Marileo Cariqueo / Community Cacique José Guiñon, Ercilla.

10. - Fernando Enrique Millacheo Marin / Community Chequenco, Ercilla.

11. - Leonardo Eusebio Quijón Pereira / Community Chequenco, Ercilla.

12. - Eliseo Efrain Ñirripil Cayupan / Autonomous Community Matias Ñirripil, Lautaro.

13. - Florencio Jaime Saravia Marileo / Community Cacique José Guiñon, Ercilla.

14. - Bernardo Ulises Neculpan Huentecol / Community Chequenco, Ercilla.

15. - Mariano Llanca Tori / Community Temucuicui Ercilla.

16. - Juan Ruperto Queipul Tori / Community Temucuicui Ercilla.

17. - Carlos Antonio Manquel Toledo / Community Coñoemil Epuleo, Ercilla.

18. - Juan de Dios Levinao Esparza / Community Folil Mapu, Ercilla.

19. - Cristian Pablo Levinao Melinao / Community Rayen Mapu, Ercilla.

20. - Rodrigo Alexis Montoya Melinao / Community Winkul Wente Mapu, Ercilla.

21. - Aladino Enrique Tori Malian / Community Choin Lafkenche, Collipulli.

22. - Heriberto Moroni Ancalaf Prado / Community Choin Lafkenche Collipulli.

23. - Camila Natalia Ancalaf Banda / Community Choin Lafkenche Collipulli.

Preventive Detention Center (CDP) of LEBU (JJ PEREZ No. 775)

24. - José Santiago Huenuche Reiman / De Lumaco / With Sunday leave.

Prison Complex "El Manzano" (CP) of CONCEPCIÓN (RoadConcepción to Penco S / N)

25. - Ramón Esteban Llanquileo Pilquiman / De Puerto Choque.

26. - Daniel Javier Levinao Montoya / Community Wente Winkul Mapu, Ercilla.

27. - Camilo Hipólito Tori Quiñinao / Autonomous Community Temucuicui, Ercilla.

28. - Héctor Javier Llaitul Carillanca / De San Juan de la Costa.

FINAL WORDS 

All We ask spread as much as possible this list, respecting the source, in order to inform on the true situation that affects our Mapuche Nation.

The sources of information are diverse, from the visit to the various prisons, to family and friends.

Mapuche Organization Mapu Wixan Meli
(From the Four Points of the Earth)
2647 Andes, Santiago. Center Meliwixanmapu@gmail.com https://meli.mapuches.org       

Violent attacks on the Mapuche communities Felipin, and Paineo Cayupan, Argentina

April 16, 2013

On Tuesday night the community ruka (home) of Lof Felipin was violently attacked and community members received death threats. They claim that businessman Pedro Chaparro is behind this action.

"Yesterday, April 16, at dawn it was intended to carry out a spiritual ceremony in the Community. For this reason many families among whom were children, women and political and spiritual authorities (logko, pijankuse) were headed there to participate in this event, encountering a roadblock set up by businessman Pedro Alejandro Chaparro in the only vehicular access to the summer pastures. The people who tried to cross were met with threats of all kinds and death threats by employees of the afore mentioned businessman.", was stated from the Mesa Campesina of Northern Neuquino.  

"Last night, at approximately 20 hours, ten people hooded civil-military dictatorship-style carrying blunt objects and knives threatened to kill men, women and children who at that time were in the community ruka (home) of Lof Felipin, destroying the tires of vehicles that were parked a few meters from the ruka,"they detailed, " we denounce that for weeks now the lawyer Lensiski, working for Chaparro, has been instigating acts of violence in the media."

From the communities and the Mesa Campesina of Northern Neuquino, they contend that there is a judiciary conspiracy to protect Chaparro because "the complicity and ineffectiveness of the prosecutors in the city of Zapala (Cofre and Azar) is visible, which paralyzes and shelves all kinds of complaints including the abduction of weapons of war held by Chaparro and his men that happened on 16 March this year."

In addition, by means of a statement they told that Ferrareso, deputy secretary of Lands of the province, was not present in the conflict zone and therefore violated the act signed with the communities.

"We hold the government of Jorge Sapag and the legal system of Neuquén responsible for the serious acts of violence that we are victims of, for not acting in accordance with the legal provincial, national and international legislation," concluded the Mesa Campesina and the authorities of the communities Felipin, Cayupan and Paineo and they call on social, political and human rights organizations to come to the ancestral territory in the summer pastures and to express their statements against the actions of the  businessman.

PUBLIC STATEMENT

We want to inform the national and international public opinion the events that occurred yesterday in the context of the conflict promoted by businessman Pedro Alejandro Chaparro against the communities Felipin, Cayupan and Paineo. 

Yesterday, April 16, at dawn it was intended to carry out a spiritual ceremony in the Community. For this reason many families among whom were children, women and political and spiritual authorities (logko, pijankuse) were headed there to participate in this event, encountering a roadblock set up by businessman Pedro Alejandro Chaparro in the only vehicular access to the summer pastures. The people who tried to cross were met with threats of all kinds and death threats by employees of the afore mentioned businessman.

Last night, at approximately 20 hours, ten people hooded civil-military dictatorship-style carrying blunt objects and knives threatened to kill men, women and children who at that time were in the community ruka (home) of Lof Felipin, destroying the tires of vehicles that were parked a few meters from the ruka. We denounce that for weeks now the lawyer Lensiski, working for Chaparro, has been instigating acts of violence in the media.

We denounce a judiciary conspiracy to protect Chaparro as the complicity and ineffectiveness of the prosecutors in the city of Zapala (Cofre and Azar) is visible, which paralyzes and shelves all kinds of complaints including the abduction of weapons of war held by Chaparro and his men that happened on 16 March this year.

For his part, the Undersecretary of Lands, Mr. Ferrareso, was not present in the conflict zone, not complying with the signed act with the authorities of the communities Cayupan, Felipin and Paineo, aggravating with his absence the situation. His duty was to restore the lot 90 to its rightful owners the Pintos family and consequently to the community Cayupan. 

We hold the government of Jorge Sapag and the legal system of Neuquén responsible for the serious acts of violence that we are victims of, for not acting in accordance with the legal provincial, national and international legislation.

The citizenry should not be confused by the self-appointing of families of prosecutors with which the criminals paid by Chaparro are shielded and who block the access to our territory at the height of Espinazo del Zorro.

We urgently appeal to the social, political and human rights organizations to come to the ancestral territory in the summer pastures and to speak out against the acts of terrorism by Chaparro, Canelli, Cruz and their pawns.

Purufe Pewen, Chachil Mapu Mapuche Territory. April 17, 2013
Signed: Pu lof Cayupan, Paineo, Felipin and C.P.I. Central Area