[IPSM] Arrest of Indigenous Youth Conference Delegate

[JJ]

To all our Relations and Supporters,


We are the Mapuche Nation Collective-Aukiñ Nawel
based here in Traditional Coast Salish Territory
otherwise known as Vancouver, BC Canada. As we
prepare for the 2nd international indigenous
youth conference we received 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 emanated from a territorial
dispute between Mapuche communities attempting to
recover ancestral lands and large landowners in
the South of Chile. 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 involved
in the occupation of ancestral lands without
so-called government "permission". His legal aid
has informed us that he will be in jail for 40
days. 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". 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
information, around the clock news on the
situation of Mapuche peoples in modern day Chile
and Argentina http://www.nodo50.org/azkintuwe .
His arrest is tactical and political. 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 desperately attempting 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 sovereignty 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 uttered no matter how cliche, no
matter how many times they have been repeated in
the past. 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. 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. The Mapuche
peoples also want to hear the truth 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


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

-- 
Jamie Kneen
Communications & Outreach Coordinator ofc. (613) 569-3439
MiningWatch Canada cell: (613) 761-2273
250 City Centre Ave., Suite 508 fax: (613) 569-5138
Ottawa, Ontario K1R 6K7 e-mail: jamie at miningwatch.ca
Canada http://www.miningwatch.ca


Native Solidarity News at
www.ckut.ca/nsn/

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