Defend Elena Varela-Chilean Videographer of Eye Film Production-Demand Return of Tapes

2008
Freedom to documentalist
Chilean Elena Varela
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We the undersigned demand the immediate release of Helena Varela and the return of all material seized by authorities of shooting the Chilean government.

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Elena Varela, a member of the film Eye Film Production Company, is arrested and detained at the prison complex in Rancagua, Sixth Region, for over a month. His arrest comes while he was filming a documentary - New Mapuche - on the conflict between the Mapuche communities and forestry companies.

With this arrest and the requisitioning of all material filmed, the Chilean State, acting under a mandate from the loggers and minerals that are destroying the environment, tries to strike again-Mapuche movement that already has several prisoners in their condemnation without having -.

This is a profoundly shocking and reprehensible methodology for the work of those who put our cameras in the service of causes that question the logic of capitalist accumulation at any price, and for the most basic freedom of expression.

The Latin American filmmakers have in our history colleagues persecuted, imprisoned and missing. The military dictatorships suppressed and censored the audio-visual media. We can not allow any repetition of these methods.

Various associations and representatives of the film business in Chile are already mobilizing against repression. Because we understand that "if you touch one, touch us all", convened the film community, human rights bodies and all social organizations to extend solidarity, multiply the initiatives and claim forcefully by the immediate release of Elena Varela.

To watch this trailer of "new Mapuche": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vf2BJO5tgg

Conf. Press freedom in Chile by Elena: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prXoWJtpDN8

Send your accession to doca [at] docacine.com.ar