Supporters rally for Mapuche in Argentina on day that marks indigenous rights

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Today marks the International Day of Solidarity with Indigenous People — a day that also marks the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas. Activists and indigenous representatives held festivals throughout Latin America to celebrate aboriginal cultures. In Argentina, people marched in support of prisoners who are Mapuche — the native people of the Patagonia region — many of whom have been displaced and some who’ve been imprisoned.

Marie Trigona has more from Buenos Aires.

Throughout the region, concern is growing over the health and freedom of several dozen Mapuche prisoners who carried out a 90-day hunger strike. Luis Marileo, an 18-year old held at a juvenile detention center was the final prisoner to call off the strike, ending his 40-day fast Tuesday. Argentina’s indigenous community mobilized in solidarity with the prisoners who face charges under Chile’s anti-terrorism law. Under the law implemented by dictator Augusto Pinochet, indigenous people can be detained without charges or trial, and may be tried in military courts.

Rodrigo is a Mapuche who was forced into exile in Argentina after Chilean authorities accused him of terrorist acts in neighboring Chile.

RODRIGO (translated): Our priority is to free our brothers. And for the anti-terrorist law to cease. Along with this is the recuperation of our territory which was usurped by land estates and the government. Our community has been driven out of our territory. Our fight isn’t for land, but for territory.

About one million Mapuche live throughout South America’s Patagonian region, and claim this land as their ancestral territory. For nearly two centuries, Mapuches have fought colonizers, ruling governments and mining, agriculture and forestry corporations which have seized the land and displaced communities.

Forced evictions attracted the attention of the United Nations, which sent a special rapporteur to monitor rights violations. In Argentina, the majority of Mapuche have no title to the land where they live.

Additionally, they face threats from foreign landholders says Genoveva Tineo, a representative from the Mapuches.

GENOVEVA TINEO (translated): Here in Argentina it is said that there are no indigenous. There are many indigenous communities; we make up 24 indigenous groups. The Mapuche are demanding rights to their land. The government has sold lands with the Mapuches inside. We are the true owners of the land. The invaders came to steal our resources. We prefer death, to go on hunger strike for 90 days, to demand respect for the indigenous people, in particular the Mapuche.

Human-rights groups have called for the full repeal of Chile’s anti-terrorism law and an end to violent and forced evictions by both states. Some progress is being made. Argentina’s Mapuches won back their rights to 250,000 hectares of land after a series of protests.

On Tuesday, Dia de la Raza or Columbus Day in Argentina, demonstrators planned to march in Buenos Aires, Neuquén and La Plata in support of Mapuche rights and to call for the release of the prisoners in Chile.

- Marie Trigona, FSRN, Buenos Aires