[IPSM] Unbelievable Arrest of International Indigenous youth Conference Delegate

[IPSM]

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Unbelieveable Arrest of International Indigenous Youth Conference
Delegate From:

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  "Mariwenio" <aliwen at telus.net>
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  To all our Relations and Supporters,


We are the Mapuche Nation Collective-Auki
Ã
± Nawel based here in
Traditional Coast Salish Territory otherwise known as Vancouver, BC
Canada.
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  As we prepare for the 2nd international indigenous youth
conference we recieved news today that at approximately 8:30 am Eastern
Time, one of the delegates that was to represent the Mapuche Nation, Pedro
Cayqueo Millaqueo, at the Conference was unbelievably and
questionably arrested and jailed as he left his home town of Nueva
Imperial in the South of Chile.

We have been informed that order of arrest warranted it on the basis that
the had not paid a fine imposed on him in the year 2003 by the Chilean
Courts which emanted from a territorial dispute between Mapuche
communities attempting to recover ancestral lands and large landowners in
the South of Chile.
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  Incredibly and ironicaly he was charged with
"usurping lands" and "cover-up of information".
  Recently the Chilean
government has been applying a series of so-called anti-terrorist laws
(the Internal Securiy Law of the State as it is known) against any Mapuche
communities or individuals that became in volved in the
occupation of ancestral lands without so-called goverment "permission".
His legal aid has informed us that he will be in jail for 40 days.
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  To add
insult to injury his arrest comes only hours after the birth of his first
daughter -Amankay.

We are shocked, upset and at the same time disgusted, angry and enraged.
Pedro's arrest as stated by his cousin who informed us of the event, was
not simply related to a "fine".
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  Pedro is the director of the most widely
read Mapuche run newspaper and electronic news service and the only such
service providing up-to-date infomation, around the clock news on the
situation of Mapuche peoples in modern day Chile and Argentina
<http://www.nodo50.org/azkintuwe> http://www.nodo50.org/azkintuwe . His
arrest is tactical and political.
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  A low blow, something to be expected
from the colonial powers. Colonial powers that until this very minute have
complete and total control of our lives.

We are desparately attemtping to bring someone who will replace him but
the situation is such that the Chilean police has the power to stop that
person from coming even seconds before they get on a plane.

The Mapuche nation is a nation of fighters and as history itself shows we
will continue to fight against all odds and against all that attempt to
imprison us and remove us from our lands. Amongst the indigenous nations
of the Americas, the Mapuche Nation was the only nation to retain it's
complete and total soverignty for over 400 years of
military, social and political conflict with outside powers. And even
after our last military defeat in battle, this disgusting war against the
people, unfortunately still continues. These words must be utterred no
matter how cliche, no matter how many times they have been repeated in the
past.
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  These words reflect our reality right now.

The silencing of our brother will not impede us, nor the flow of
information to you. We will do everything to keep those interested up to
date. We will also ensure that the Chilean government, police, and those
sectors of Chilean society responsible for this get an earfull. The least
we can do 15 000 km away.
Â
  The history of indigenous peoples in North
AMerica and their struggles needs to be heard as well, and Pedro's coming
was to be yet another channel for your stories to be told
elsewhere. This will go on.
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  The Mapuche peoples also want to hear the
Âtruth about the reality of indigenous peoples history in Canada, North
AMerica and the rest of the World for that matter.
  We will do all in our
power to make sure this happens.

In memory of our most recent young warrior taken in the battle: Senen
Necul, 17. Killed the 10th of May, 2005

Jair Machado
Ida Reiman Huilcaman

PS.-
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  Those who recieved this letter are not on any e-mail list.
Â
  You were
contated by us on behalf of our collective directly. You will not receive
periodic mail from our collective unless specifically requested. This is a
one time bulletin.

Please Forward this message on to those not on the compiled list above.


One does not sell the land upon which the people walk- Tashunka Witko,
(Crazy Horse)