ECOTERRA - Survival for People and Nature: we ask that human rights organisations shall be invited by your government and requested to urgently send delegations of independent observers to Mapuche territory, in order to investigate and document the violations of human rights, thereby dispelling the myth that visitors and overseas guests of the Mapuche community are subversives and/or terrorists. NAIROBI/KENYA, March, 1999

From: ECOTERRA International - NAIROBI-NODE - NAIROBI/KENYAThrough: H.E. Mr. Jaime JanaPermanent RepresentativePermanent Mission of Chile to theUnited Nations Environment ProgrammeP.O.Box 45554NAIROBIKenyaph: +254-2-331-320fax: +254-2-215648

 Mr. President,Honorable Minister,Your Excellencies,

While the 55 th session of the United Nations Commission for Human Rights just started today, we were again alerted by sad news from Chile (see information cited below).

It is with great concern that we have to observe such negative developments and to receive again such sad news from your country concerning the serious setback of indigenous people's right in Chile.

Together with other human rights organisations, indigenous nations and communities of the world we state our solidarity with the just cause of the Mapuche people and demand that the Chilean government respects international treaties, returns confiscated Mapuche territories, respects the Indigenous Law No 19.253 and observes human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights. We also demand that it respects freedom of religion and freedom of movement.

But first of all we demand that your governance puts a stop to unjust persecution of Mapuche leaders and authorities.

Furthermore we hasten the demilitarisation of Mapuche territories and strongly advise that global solutions to the century-old Mapuche problem be sought through negotiations conducted in a constructive spirit of equality and mutual respect.

More specifically, we ask, that the authorities of the Chilean Governance be required to:

* Investigate, halt and punish those police officers who operate on the margins of the law;* Take measures to eradicate the institutionalised racism which exists within the police force;* Bring to an end the repressive methods and abstain from using the Law of State Internal Security, which has caused so much damage to relations between the Mapuche community, the judiciary and security services;* Recognise the Mapuche people within the Chilean constitution, and* Ratify the Convention 169 of the OIT on the part of the Chilean state.
Finally, we ask that human rights organisations shall be invited by your government and requested to urgently send    delegations of independent observers to Mapuche territory, in order to investigate and document the violations of human rights, thereby dispelling the myth that visitors and overseas guests of the Mapuche community are subversives and/or terrorists.

Please keep us informed and be assured of our highest consideration, once these improvements of the human rights situation in Chile have become reality.

Sincerely