To join in solidarity with Mapuche political prisoners: The vigil is in response to a call by European based Mapuche solidarity groups, for a “Day of International solidarity with the Mapuche people”.

The brutal repression of Mapuche communities, activists and ancestral authorities remains a daily reality for hundreds of Mapuche people, enforced and perpetuated by the Chilean State, government law enforcement agency and the Chilean judicial system. Mapuche protesters commonly receive sentences of up to 25 years for minor crimes and are frequently convicted on false evidence and by using confessions extracted under threat and torture. With no recourse to justice a number of imprisoned Mapuche express their demands for justice through hunger strike protest.

Meet at 12:30 till 13:30, outside the Chilean Embassy : 12 Devonshire Street, London, W1N 2DS
(Near Portland Street Tube Station)

Judge Guzman (Judge in Pinochet trial) has recognised that Mapuche prisoners are political prisoners, contradicting the policy of the Bachelet government, which continues to deny them status as such. Further he stated- on Chilean national television - that the Chilean judicial system has neglected to act with impartiality towards Mapuche political prisoners.

Currently, seven Mapuche political prisoners have been on indefinite hunger strike since 10 October 2007: Jaime Marileo, Patricia Troncoso, Jose Millalen, Hector Llaitul, Jose Huenchunao, Waiklilaf Cadin Calfunao, and Ivan Llanquileo have demanded the following:

* Freedom for all Mapuche political prisoners
* The demilitarization of the Araucanian conflict zone
* An end to the repression of Mapuche communities