Date: Wed, 07 Apr 1999 21:26:54 -0700 From: Monti Aguirre Subject: LS: Call for Action To: irn-biobio@igc.org ***** Subject: Report on the Pehuenche situation and Call for Action From: Dario Jana, International Support Network for the Pehuenche People (RIAP) riap@wbox.de and Rodrigo Garreton, GABB gabb@reuna.cl March, 1999 ***** Brothers, Sisters and Friends, There has been an escalation of the repression of those families who are unwilling to give up their ancestral lands in the Upper Bio-Bio. Among the most serious events of recent weeks are: 1. Endesa officials have visited the homes of the eight dissident families accompanied by their relatives to try to convince them to hand over their land. Besides using them, they are employing intimidation and threats to force them to leave and accept the land that Endesa is offering. According to independent studies, this land does not represent an improvement for the families' quality of life. 2. The case of Berta and Nicolasa Quintreman, women who have symbolized the struggle in the Bio-Bio, has been transferred to the Military Court of Chillan. They are accused of attacking police in the latest demonstrations, which involved two foreigners who were threatened with expulsion from the country. Berta and Nicolasa Quintreman were released but are obliged to testify. Another 23 indigenous people have legal action pending against them. 3. The government has demanded that Endesa resolve the question of the land soon, knowing that if it were to go to trial, the validity of the Indigenous Law would certainly be found to take precedence over the Electricity Law. If it didn't, the Indigenous Law would not be worth the paper it's printed on and would anger the indigenous people and perhaps lead to greater force and violence. Naturally, the government wants to avoid this. The inhabitants of the area are in need of the maximum support and resources possible at this time. To channel such support, RIAP is preparing a financial aid proposal (which will be sent out soon) in order to fund, as much as possible, the following tasks: -Pehuenche Solidarity Funds (lawyers, trials, transportation, lodging, demonstrations, etc.) -Food Funds (students, indigenous families, etc.) -Communication Funds In addition, the two women affected are preparing a declaration and a call for help. For more information and those interested in getting involved in the funding project to aid the Bio-Bio, write to: Dario Jana riap@wbox.de This is a call for solidarity with the Pehuenche people of Chile. Please, send this email to all organizations that may be interested. In solidarity, Dario Jana Coordinator, International Support Network for the Pehuenche People Fax: +49-89-6661-743504 Phone: +49-40-6792909-24650 email: darioj@bigfoot.com http://members.tripod.de/Biobio/Bienvenida.htm ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Monti Aguirre Latin American Campaigns International Rivers Network 1847 Berkeley Way Berkeley, CA. 94703 USA Phone: 510 . 848.11.55 and 707 . 591 .91.49 Fax: 510 . 848.10.08 e-mail: monti @irn.org ffff,0000,ffffhttp://www.irn.org