PUBLIC STATEMENT BY THE MAPUCHE POLITICAL PRISONERS ON HUNGER STRIKE IN THE PRISON OF ANGOL, CHILE

ANGOL, OCTOBER 17, 2013

From the prison in Angol, we, Fernando Millacheo and Cristian Levinao, Mapuche Political Prisoners, greet you and inform to the Mapuche People, social organizations and the national and international public opinion that:

Kiñe: We announce that since Tuesday October 15, 2013, at 12.00 we have responsibly assumed a hunger strike for an indefinite period, with the aim of achieving the annulment of the trial which condemns us unjustly to 15 years and 10 years respectively. Facing such a drastic decision, concerning our health, considering that we have carried out other previous strikes, it is that it becomes for us a necessity that we get our freedom.

Epu: The Public Ministry unjustly accused us of Robbery with Intimidation and intended Homicide, with as a result the high penalties that were imposed on each of us, now our process is in the Supreme Court waiting to be reviewed and annulled, due to the innumerable irregularities that were part of the trail to condemn us.

Küla: We emphatically denounce the injustices and abuses of power committed by the Chilean government and the Ministry of Justice, against our Mapuche Nation, criminalizing our territorial demands. This sentence, we know, is part of the political persecution that the State manages against our communities Newen Mapu and Rayen Mapu, among others, where we have assumed the recovery and liberation of our territory from the hands of landowners and forestry companies. 

Meli: We call on all our peñi and lamgen, the social organizations and all those who believe in the liberation of our territory from the destructive hands of corporations and landowners to support us and visit us as we carry out our hunger strike, we know that without the support of the people in the streets, to reach our goal, would be very difficult.

WE DEMAND THE ANNULMENT OF OUR SENTENCE
FREEDOM FOR ALL MAPUCHE POLITICAL PRISONERS
FREEDOM FOR OUR TERRITORY

 
FERNANDO MILLACHEO MARIN
CRISTIAN LEVINAO MELINAO