(27 September 2010) Representatives of a group called Mapuche Territorial Alliance entered the premises of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on Thursday 23 September 2010, to express their concern on the situation of 34 members of the Mapuche community who are on a hunger strike. The group continues to stay today at ECLAC premises.
A spokeswoman for the Mapuche group at ECLAC handed over a letter addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon. This letter was personally delivered to the Secretary-General by ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena, who was visiting United Nations Headquarters in New York and participating in the UN General Assembly.
A copy of the letter was also delivered to the representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile and to the Permanent Mission to the United Nations of the Government of Chile.
The Mapuche group was notified by ECLAC that as part of the institutional policy of the United Nations, the Secretary-General cannot consider a public statement until the group leaves the ECLAC premises, as happened on 23 September with the Mapuche group that occupied the headquarters of the International Labour Organization.
The Mapuche group is comprised of 11 adults and three children. ECLAC has provided the group with what they need to keep warm and safe inside the ECLAC building, part of which was damaged after the earthquake that struck Chile last February and is still under repair.
Upon her arrival to the Chilean capital, Bárcena, and the Deputy Executive Secretary Antonio Prado met with the Mapuche group and checked that their living conditions were satisfactory.
For enquiries, please contact ECLAC's Public Information and Web Services Section. Email: dpisantiagocepal.org; telephone: (56-2) 210-2040.
