You are in a position to improve the deteriorated relationship between the Chilean authorities and the Mapuche people by being magnanimous with the Mapuche activists on hunger strike, accepting their demands for a conversation and a new trial without the application of the anti-terrorist laws created under dictatorship. We hope, for the future of the relationship between your government and the Mapuche people, that you can influence the course of this issue and achieve a better ending to this story, for the wellbeing of all the Mapuche activists involved and your government. Denver, CO, USA, April 19, 2006 (2006-4-19)

Ms.

Michelle Bachelet

Dear Ms President

The people signing this letter are very concerned for the health and life of the Mapuche activists on hunger strike in prison in the city of Angol, Provincia of Malleco, IX Region, Chile. As we know from information in the media, these young Mapuche activists are experiencing their 37th day of hunger strike, and they have lost a great deal of weight. Their heath and lives are in danger. We also know that the cause of the hunger strike is their protest against the application of anti-terrorist laws in their trial and the excessive nature of their sentence: ten years of prison and a fine of almost a million dollars, a sum that no Mapuche peasant will could pay. This form of punishment by the Chilean justice system, with the Chilean government taking the side of the plaintiff, in order to penalize the Mapuche struggle for usurped lands, has been seriously criticized by respected international human right institutions, such as the International Federation of Human Rights, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and by the Special Rapporteur for Indigenous People of the United Nations, Mr. Rodolfo Stavenhagen. Furthermore, we are aware that the application of anti-terrorist laws is opposed by almost all Mapuche organizations, as well as numerous Chilean civic organizations, who consider these laws an extreme measure in these cases.

As we are aware that you and your family suffered repression under the dictatorship, we believe that your government should be more sensitive to the Mapuche hunger strike and the disproportionate sentences that have been given. While we are aware that this issue began under the former government and is not of your making, the image of democracy in Chile is not strengthened by such repressive practices against Mapuche peasants and activists. You are in a position to improve the deteriorated relationship between the Chilean authorities and the Mapuche people by being magnanimous with the Mapuche activists on hunger strike, accepting their demands for a conversation and a new trial without the application of the anti-terrorist laws created under dictatorship. We hope, for the future of the relationship between your government and the Mapuche people, that you can influence the course of this issue and achieve a better ending to this story, for the wellbeing of all the Mapuche activists involved and your government.

Cordially,

Jose A. MARIMAN (Doctoral Candidate)
Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
724, W. Sterne Pkwy
Denver, CO, USA
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Binota Moy Dhamai
Assistant General Secretary
Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum
H-3, Road- 25/A, Banani
Dhaka – 1213, Bangladesh
Tel : +88 01713 002673

PhD. Diane Haughney
Assistant Professor
Political Science

Bates College, ME, USA
Elizabeth L. Parmelee
(PhD candidate Denver University)
Director
Colorado Partnership for Education and Renewal
Denver, CO, USA.

PhD Fernando Ignacio. Leiva Letelier
Assistant Professor
SUNY at Albany
Albany, NY, USA

PhD Karin A. Rosemblatt
Associate Professor of History
Maxwell School of Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY, USA

PhD Richard P. Parmelee
Electric Engineer´
Catherine L. Parmelee

Julia Parmelee
Concord, MA, USA

Yesee Agbulos
Mandaya Nation, Filipinas
D-4B, 2F, Gahol Building, Jacinto Extension Street
Davao City, Province Davao del Sur
8000 Filipinas

Miguel Cornejo Lozano
Economist

Ana Silva
Teacher
Denver, CO, USA

Danko J.S. Mariman G.
Student
Boston Arquitecture Center
Boston, MA, USA
 

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