Patricia Troncoso "Mapuche" Activist Reinstates her Hunger Strike in Chile

Tue04Mar2008

Patricia Troncoso "Mapuche" Activist Reinstates her Hunger Strike in Chile

10:19 H | Topics: Activism - Chile - Mexico

Patricia Troncoso aka La Chepa, a Chilean activist working in solidarity with the indigenous Mapuche community in Chile, has reinstated the hunger strike that landed her in a Temuco hospital after stating that the Chilean government hasn't kept their end of the bargain that caused her to end her 112 day fast last month. Part of the bargain was that Troncoso be transferred to the Center for Work and Education (CET) owned by prison security in Angol, and also included Sunday outings to begin in March. Troncoso was in jail stemming from 2003 charges that she was involved in burning nearly 250 acres of pine plantations belonging to the Minico Company.

The Chilean Minister of Justice Carlos Maldonado said that the government was willing to comply with its' end of the bargain but not on Troncoso's timetable.

In a letter penned by Troncoso, she points the finger all the way up to Chilean President Bachelet, saying that "once again we have been tricked by her".

Interestingly enough, Troncoso is not Mapuche herself.

Via / Periodsimo Ciudadano and Mapuche.nl

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Maegan la Mala

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1. KARL LENZ ~ Tuesday, Jun 10 2008 | 11:20H:

Does she have to be a Mapuche herself to fight for the Mapuche's rights? Clearly no one has to be Mapuche to fight for their dignity and their rights. The problem is that in Chile, people seem to think that if you are not a Mapuche, you shouldn't get involved. Chileans are very antiquated and very old fashioned. Any one has the right to fight for peoples rights. The Mapuche are the most coregeous people of all the Americas, no one fougth for their rights and dignity the way the Mapuche did. Everyone else were wimps.

2. Maegan la Mala Ortiz ~ Tuesday, Jun 10 2008 | 11:38H:

I lived in Chile and one of my daughters is half-Mapuche. Just a statement of full disclosure. That said, I don't think that one has to be Mapuche to get involved in the legitimate struggles that Mapuche are engaging in in Chile. However, I find it interesting all the attention she is getting in the media when other Mapuche activists are not getting paid attention to and when they are it is in a negative light (on Chilean television anyway). It is a little disturbing. I think that non-Mapuche should work with the Mapuche but I think the Mapuche should be taking the lead and directing the movement.

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