Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Chile: Mapuche activist fast over 100 days

Chilean activist Patricia Troncoso (archived image) has gone over 100 days fasting as she and other indigenous rights advocates are protesting her jail sentence. Doctors at Herminda Martin Hospital where Troncoso is being kept have warned that she “is in a very, very serious condition,” while her lawyers continue to appeal her ruling.

Troncoso was convicted to ten years in jail for setting fire to a farm under a law passed during Chile’s military dictatorship. Several human rights groups have unsuccessfully called for President Michelle Bachelet to intervene:

On Monday, Amnesty International and Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, an Argentine human rights group, asked Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to intercede in what Amnesty called "an unjust trial and sentence."

Bachelet has in the past declined to intervene, noting that a court, not the government, has jurisdiction over Troncoso's case.

According to Chilean daily La Tercera, local police cleared out three tents located in front of the Herminda Martin Hospital where several Mapuche activists where camping out in solidarity with Troncoso.

Sources (English)- Associated Press, Xinhua, RedBolivia

Sources (Spanish)- La Tercera

Image- barilochense.com

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