Denver, September 8, 2010 - Chile Indígena



Denver, September 13, 2010Mr. Sebastian Pi?era Echenique,President of the Chilean RepublicPalacio de la MonedaSantiago, ChileDear Mr. President:The news coming from Chile to us in the USA, speaks of 34 indigenous Mapuche activists on a hunger strike, in different prisons in the south of Chile. Thirty-two of them are nearing 65 days without food and are ready to start a no liquids phase of their demonstration. Their demands are quite simple: not that the Chilean government forgive any crimes they may have committed as activists, but only that they be subject to a fair, civilian trial.Currently, they are being subjected to Chile’s anti-terrorist law, created to punish legitimate demonstrations of social dissatisfaction during the Pinochet dictatorship. This law is under scrutiny by different political actors in Chile today, because of irregularities that prevent a proper defense. These irregularities include the use of confessions obtained under torture, witnesses who are paid and masked during testimony, defense lawyers being denied free access to the process, and defendants confronting double jeopardy because they are judged by both a civilian court and a military court with penalties four times higher than those subjected to regular civilian law. Finally, in the case of indigenous activists who are absolved and freed after nearly two years of preventive incarceration, no compensation of any type has been granted, leaving these people in a hopeless economic situation.We know, and we appreciate, that you sent a reform to this law to the Chilean parliament during the past days, but those reforms are only now under discussion in the political arena, and they do not resolve specifically the situation of the people on hunger strike. Apparently, and according to representatives of these people, human right organizations and some Chilean parliamentarians, the proposed reforms do not address the complaints of the hunger strikers. Because we believe that the hunger strikers’ demands are legitimate, we are asking you and your government to pay attention to their reasonable request and to cease using anti-terrorist laws against them. The lives of these activists are in danger today. Please, do something to avoid their deaths. Please, listen and speak with them now and open negotiations as several key actors of the Chilean society life are suggesting, among them the Catholic Church.Cordially,Jose A. Mariman, Dr. (Political Scientist)Sigrid Huenchu?ir (Ph.D., Student)(U.S. citizen and Mapuche born in Chile)(Mapuche from Chile, USA resident)Independent Researcher and ConsultantUniversity of Colorado at BoulderLittleton, Colorado, USABoulder, Colorado, USATel.: (1-720) 984-4648 (cell)Tel.: (1-512) 633-5931 (cell)ppmariman@sigridps@ CC: 1.Chilean Parliament; 2. Agrupación de Familiares de Presos Políticos Mapuche en Chile; 3. Catholic Church; 4. Azkintuwe (Mapuche Newspaper). 5. USA and Chilean Newspapers. Denver, September 14, 2010Sr. Sebastian Pi?era Echenique,Presidente de la República de ChilePalacio de la MonedaSantiago, ChileEstimado Sr. Presidente:Nos llegan noticias a USA sobre 34 activistas indígenas Mapuche en huelga de hambre en diferentes prisiones en el sur de Chile. 32 de ellos llevan cerca de 65 días sin ingerir alimentos y dispuestos a iniciar una huelga seca como una nueva fase de su protesta. Sus demandas son bastante simples: no piden que el gobierno de Chile olvide los presuntos delitos que pudieron haber cometido como activistas, sino que, sólo piden ser sujetos de un debido proceso en tribunales civiles, En estos momentos están siendo acusados a través de la ley antiterrorista, creada para castigar las legítimas demostraciones de disconformidad social durante el periodo dictatorial de A. Pinochet. Esta ley ha sido cuestionada por diferentes actores sociales en Chile, debido a las irregularidades que impiden una legítima defensa. Estas irregularidades incluyen el uso de confesiones obtenidas bajo tortura, el uso de testigos que son pagados y enmascarados durante los juicios, los abogados defensores no pueden acceder a la investigación de los fiscales durante el proceso y, los acusados deben afrontar dobles juicos porque son juzgados tanto por tribunales civiles, como por tribunales militares, afrontando sentencias que son 4 veces más altas que las sentencias decretadas por las leyes regulares para el mismo tipo de delitos. Finalmente, en el caso de indígenas que han sido absueltos y liberados después de cerca de 2 a?os de prisión preventiva, no han recibido ningún tipo de compensación, dejando a esas personas y sus familias, en precarias situaciones económicas.Conocemos y valoramos las reformas legales que ha enviado al parlamento Chileno en los pasados días, pero esas reformas no resuelven la situación específica de las personas en huelga de hambre. De acuerdo a lo sostenido por los voceros de los huelguistas, organizaciones de derechos humanos y algunos parlamentarios chilenos, las reformas propuestas no resuelven las demandas de los prisioneros mapuches en huelga de hambre.Porque creemos que las demandas de los huelguistas son legítimas, le solicitamos a Ud. y su gobierno poner atención a sus requerimientos y el cese del uso de la ley antiterrorista contra ellos. Hoy la vida de estos activistas está en peligro. Por favor haga algo para evitar sus muertes. Por favor escúchelos y dialogue con ellos ahora y abra una mesa de diálogo como muchos actores relevantes de la sociedad civil chilena están sugiriendo, entre ellos, la Iglesia Católica.Cordialmente,Jose A. Mariman, Dr. (Political Scientist)Sigrid Huenchu?ir (Ph.D., Student)(U.S. citizen and Mapuche born in Chile)(Mapuche from Chile, USA resident)Independent Researcher and ConsultantUniversity of Colorado at BoulderLittleton, Colorado, USABoulder, Colorado, USATel.: (1-720) 984-4648 (cell)Tel.: (1-512) 633-5931 (cell)ppmariman@sigridps@ CC: 1.Parlamento chileno; 2. Agrupación de Familiares de Presos Políticos Mapuche en Chile; 3. Iglesia Católica; 4. Azkintuwe (periódico Mapuche). 5. Periódicos chilenos y de USA. In support:USA01. Joe Bryan, PhD, Assistant ProfessorDepartment of GeographyUniversity of Colorado at Boulder Boulder, Colorado 80309-0260 USA02. Elizabeth L. Parmelee, PhD.Littleton, Colorado, USA03. Patricia Richards, PhD. Associate ProfessorSociology & Women's StudiesUniversity of Georgia, Georgia, USA04. Scott Drago, PhD.Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA05. Joseph de Rivera, PhDProfessor of PsychologyDirector, Peace Studies programClark University, Worcester, Massachusetts, USAPresident, Society for the Study of Peace. Conflict, and ViolenceDivision 48 of the American Psychological Association06. Mary Finley-Brook, PhDRichmond, Virginia, USA07. Dr. Douglas HermanWashington, D.C. USA08. Joseph Nevins, Associate ProfessorDepartment of Earth Science and GeographyVassar CollegePoughkeepsie, New York, USA09. Ron J Smith, PhD CandidateUniversity of WashingtonDepartment of GeographySeattle, Washington, USA10. Steven J. Rainey, Ph.D.McNeese State UniversityLake Charles, Louisiana, USA11. Rachel BrahinskyDepartment of GeographyUniversity of California, Berkeley, USA12. Gleen T. Morris. JD, Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Colorado at DenverDirectorFourth World Center for the Study of Indigenous Law and PoliticsUniversity of Colorado DenverDenver, Colorado, USA13. Daniel Klooster,Professor and Director of the Latin American Studies ProgramUniversity of RedlandsRedlands, California, USA14. Greg A CummingsSan Francisco, California, USA15. Julianne Hazlewood, Doctoral (c) in GeographyUniversity of KentuckyLexington, Kentucky, USA16. Diane Haughney, Ph.D.Washinton, D.C. USA17. Denielle M. Perry, MSReno, Nevada, USA18. Steve McFarland, PhD, Student,City University of New YorkBrooklyn, New York, USA19. Nicholas L. Padilla (PhD., Student)University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeMilwaukee, Wisconsin USA20. Jennifer Casolo, PhD, CandidateUniversity of California at Berkeley, USA21. Mariela Infante E.Buffalo, New York, USA22. Kate A. Berry, Ph.D., Associate Professor and ChairDepartment of GeographyUniversity of Nevada, RenoReno, Nevada, USA23. Bjorn SlettoProgram in Community and Regional PlanningSchool of ArchitectureSutton Hall 3.124BThe University of Texas at Austin,Austin, Texas, USA24. Heather Teague, Ph.D. (c)University of Texas at Austin,Austin, Texas, USA25. Alicia Swords, Ph.D.,Ithaca College,Ithaca, New York, USA26. Lemunantu A. Mariman, student at Mills CollegeOakland, California, USA27. Rafael Olivares MDLakewood, Colorado USA28. Denielle M. Perry, MSReno, Nevada, USA29. Ron J Smith. PhD (c)University of WashingtonDepartment of GeographySeattle, Washington, USA30. Dr. Kathleen McAfeeAssociate Professor, International RelationsSan Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco, California? USA31. Steven J. Rainey, PhDMcNeese State UniversityLake Charles, LA, USA32. Miguel Lozano, MA (economist)Denver, Colorado, USA33. Serena Cosgrove, PhD, Assistant ProfessorMatteo Ricci CollegeSeattle UniversitySeattle, Washington, USA34. Laura Martin, MPAff Austin, Texas, USA35. Claudia Huenchuleo, PsicólogaSan Francisco, California, USA36. Lindsay Adams, MA of Arts (c)Latin American StudiesUniversity of Texas-Austin, USA37. Luis E. Cárcamo-Huechante, Assistant Professor (Mapuche-Williche)The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA38. Ana Silva, MA EducationDenver, Colorado, USA39. Maria Fernanda Glaser Danton, PhD StudentSUNY at Buffalo, USA.40. Megan Ybarra, Assistant ProfessorPolitics Department and Latin American Studies ProgramWillamette UniversitySalem, Oregon, USA41. Serena Cosgrove, PhD., Assistant ProfessorMatteo Ricci CollegeSeattle UniversitySeattle, Washington, USA42. Sapana Doshi, PhD (c)Department of GeographyUniversity of California, Berkeley, USA43. Loring Abeyta, Ph.D., Adjunct LecturerDepartment of Political ScienceCollege of Liberal Arts and SciencesUniversity of Colorado Denver44. T. Garrett Graddy, PhD CandidateGeography, University of Kentucky, KYVisiting Assistant Professor, Environmental Politics,Carleton College, Minnesota, USA45. William ForbesNacogdoches, Texas, USA46. Eduardo Olivares, MA (c)University of California, San DiegoSan Diego, CA, USA47. Richard Parmelee PhD, (engineer)Catherine deRivera Parmelee, Julia ParmeleeConcord, Massachusetts, USA48. Roberto Forns-Broggi, PhD., Assistant ProfessorDenver, Colorado USA49. Adam Henne, Ph.D.International Studies, University of WyomingLaramie, Wyoming, USA50. Carolijn Terwindt, LL.M. JSD, (c)Columbia Law School, New York, New York, USA51. Leticia Aparicio Soriano, MA (c)Latin American StudiesTeresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American StudiesUniversity of Texas at AustinAustin, Texas, USA52. Tanya Mote, PhD4725 High St.Denver, Colorado, USA53. Arthur Campa, PhD., Associate Dean Metropolitan State CollegeDenver, Colorado, USA54. Gabriela Torres, UndergraduateUniversity of Texas at AustinAustin, Texas, USA55. Paloma Diaz, M.AAustin, TexasNEPAL01. Sumitra Manandhar Gurung, PhD.Kathmandu, NEPAL.02. Bhim Kisan, StudentJhapa, NEPAL.03. Anita Manandhar, PhD.Kathmandu, NEPAL.04. Amanda M. Gurung, Siklis, Kaski, NEPAL05. Mamita Thapa MagarOkhaldhunga, NEPAL.06. Purna GurungAamp Pipal, Gorkha, NEPAL.07. Rabindra PachhaiKhusibun, Kathmandu, NEPALCANADA01. Chantelle Richmond, PhDUniversity of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, CANADA02. Magdalena Garcia, M.Sc. Candidate,Department of Geography, Planning and EnvironmentConcordia UniversityMontreal, Quebec, CANADA, H3G 1M8IRELAND01. Julianne Hazlewood, Teaching and Research Fellow,National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway City, IRELANDUNITED KINGDOM01. Penelope AnthiasDepartment of GeographyUniversity of Cambridge, UNITED KINGDOM02. Dr. Mo Hume,School of Social and Political SciencesUniversity of Glasgow40 Bute Gardens Glasgow G12 8RT, UNITED KINGDOMGERMANY01. Pablo Galain PalermoSenior ResearcherMax Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal LawFreiburg i.Br. GERMANY02. Carlos Huenchuleo Pedreros, PhD studentGeorg-August-Universit?t G?ttingenGERMANYNEW ZELAND01, Nicole Gombay, PhD.Dept. of GeographyUniversity of CanterburyChristchurch, NEW ZELANDBELGIUM01. Omar JabaryGhent UniversityBrussels, BelgiumSWITZERLAND01. Sabina and Jacinto Fitze Jupiterstrasse 1, Bern, SWITZERLAND02. Deborah and Rodrigo La MozaBurgerenzil 12, 3OO6, Bern,SWITZERLAND03. Moises and Cedric FitzeMuristrasse 75URISTRASSE, 3006 Bern, SWITZERLAND04. Adelina and Sergio BinzMuristrasse 65, 3006 Bern, SWITZERLANDECUADOR01. Yolanda Teran, PhD, candidateQuito, ECUADOR.MEXICO01. Amador Teodocio OlivaresSeccion XII, Teacher Union. Oaxaca, MEXICOCHILE01. Nicolas Schneider Errazuriz (13.688.449-2)Geógrafo consultor independienteSantiago, CHILE02. Enzo Abbagliati Boils, Ciudadano Chileno RUT 6.371.200-003. Florencia García Oyanedel RUT: 08.233.292-804. Ricardo López Mu?ozCI: 7623858-805. Ginnia Silva?Chilena, Rut: 8.226.302-0Puerto Montt, Chile______________________ ................
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