Demand freedom for Mapuche political prisoners in Chile​

Santiago de Chile, June 24 (RHC)-- Inhabitants of Padre Hurtado (south of Santiago de Chile) arrived at the ruins of the community's old coal mine to demand the release of all Mapuche political prisoners and other protesters who have been imprisoned for demanding their rights during the uprisings of 2019.

Joined by the Octubre Combativo collective, they aim to make that struggle visible and generate awareness about the people who are kept in prison for demanding their rights.  "They are not common criminals as they are usually portrayed in the media. These guys are political prisoners. In Chile there is political prison and today we are here to demand their unconditional freedom", said one of the representatives of the movement.

Likewise, the demonstrators demand justice for those killed by the public forces since October 18 to date and pointed out that "we are not going to get down until this becomes visible."

Chileans demand the approval of a general pardon for all prisoners of the 2019 riots and several social organizations called for a day of agitation this June 24 to demand that pardon in the Plaza de Armas in Santiago de Chile.

In 2020, the Human Rights Commission of the Chilean Senate approved the pardon for humanitarian reasons to those charged during the social protests.   However, Piñera dismissed the existence of political prisoners in his Public Account pronouncement.

On October 18, 2019, a rebellion of several social sectors against the current Government began after the increase of the subway fare in the metropolitan region as a triggering event.