In the Alto Biobio, there are unprecedented actions happening against the families who refuse to abandon their ancestral lands. The most serious that has happened these past few weeks are the following: URGENT APPEAL RIAP, April,1999
URGENT APPEAL
Friends,
In the Alto Biobio, there are unprecedented actions happening against the families who refuse to abandon their ancestral lands. The most serious that has happened these past few weeks are the following:
- ENDESA employees have approached the houses of the 8 families who haven't agreed to have their lands usurped, trying to convince them of surrendering their lands to ENDESA. According to independent studies, the lands that ENDESA offers aren't necessarily better for the quality of life.
- Berta and Nicolasa Quintreman, women and symbols of the struggle in the Biobio have gone through Fiscalie Militar of Chillan (military court) accused of attacking Carabineros (police) in the past protest in which 2 foreigners were arrested. Both are obligated to testify. Besides them, there are 23 other indigenous people who have a lawsuit.
- The government has demanded that ENDESA solve the land issue shortly knowing that the validity of the Indigenous Law faced with the Electric Law, which would lead to a lot of force and violence. The state certainly wants to avoid this confrontation. At these times, the inhabitants of the zone need a lot of support and resources. In order to accomplish this, RIAP is preparing a proposal of financial help with the goal of covering for as much as possible of the following:
- Funds for Pehuence support (lawyers, proceedings, tickets, mobilizations, etc)
- Funds for foods (students, indigenous families, etc.)
- Funds for commmunication
Besides that, the women themselves are preparing a declaration and a call for support.
For more information write to:
Dario Jana
This is an official announcement to the solidarity with the Pehuenche people of Chile. Please spread this information to organizations that may be interested.
Dario Jana
Coordinador RIAP
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Dario Jana
Coordinador RIAP
Fax: +49-89-6661-743504
Phone Box: +49-40-6792909-24650
email:
http://members.tripod.de/Biobio/Bienvenida.htm
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- Translated by Suzan Given
Monti Aguirre
Latin American Campaigns
International Rivers Network
1847 Berkeley Way
Berkeley, CA. 94703 USA
Phone: 510 . 848.11.55 and 707 . 591 .91.49
Fax: 510 . 848.10.08
e-mail: monti @irn.org
