Mapuche resistance in the streets of Concepción

On Thursday, October 5, 2006, on the outskirts of the University of Concepción in Chile, at about 11:30 in the morning, members of the indigenous Mapuche Nation group "Coordinadora Arauco Malleco" (CAM) and supporters of the Mapuche struggle took the streets to protest against all the abuses committed against the Mapuche people.

The repression and persecution against the Mapuche people is surpassing any limit, which is reason enough for CAM to raise barricades on this day to completely stop traffic.

After maintaining the street blockade for more than 20 minutes, a bank branch of the Banco Santander was attacked, located at the intersection of the streets Edmundo Larenas and Chacabuco.

Immediately afterwards, the repressive forces showed up, attacking with a water cannon and tear gas until entering the university in search of the masked blockade participants.

After 40 minutes of combat, with various tires set on fire and a large quanitity of Molotov firebombs thrown, the police retreated, and so nobody was arrested.

* The Coordinadora Arauco Malleco (CAM) distributed the following communiqué:

Freedom to all the Mapuche political prisoners, imprisoned by this corrupt judicial system, in connection with the Chilean government of the moment.

Freedom is not obtained by negotiating or begging, nor with pitiful petitions. Freedom must be gained day by day, with resistance and struggle.

Out with the forestry companies and the big land-owners, and the other capitalist vultures that despoil Mapuche territory and its wealth.

For the right to freedom as a people, life, the dignity of the children, the elderly, and for the defense of our territory, and in memory of our Weichafe Alex Lemun, we will continue struggling.

We call for the communities to resist this murderous and cowardly attack on the part of the State toward our people, through its parasites (the pigs).

FOR TERRITORY AND AUTONOMY
WITH OUR HEROES LEFTRARU, PELANTARO, LEMUN, AND OTHERS
WITH THE DIGNITY OF OUR PRISONERS AND PERSECUTED

COORDINADORA DE COMUNIDADES MAPUCHE EN CONFLICTO ARAUCO-MALLECO (CAM)


** Original article in Spanish: http://www.hommodolars.cl/e107/news.php?extend.1159