Chile: Mapuche Indigenous Leader Facundo Jones Huala Condemned

The Oral Criminal Court of Valdivia, located in the Region of Los Ríos (Chile), announced Friday the sentence of the Argentine leader of the Mapuche Ancestral Resistance (RAM), Facundo Jones Huala, prosecuted for alleged involvement in the burning of a house on January 9 of 2013.

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The Argentine Mapuche community leader was convicted, in Chile, of causing arson, and illegal possession of firearms after the attack that occurred in January 2013. According to his defense legal team, neither the genetic evaluations nor the statements of the witnesses of the attack link Jones Huala to the acts carried out.

Earlier on Friday, Huala said that he would not change his testimony, no matter what was the verdict, "I will keep my innocence independently of what the court decides." Adding that the Mapuche people have been attacked both in the Argentine and Chilean side of the Andes.

"Despite so many vexations that there are with my people on both sides of the mountain range, I hope that in this country there are places that are not corrupt as in Argentina, where people even died to be extradited with me," Huala claimed, before the court's session. "Justice for our people and stop the politically-motivated police charade," said the Mapuche leader.

The Chilean Public Ministry requested 12 years in prison for the crime of provoking the fire and three years for the possession of a homemade firearm  However, the sentence has not yet been handed down and will be read on December 21 at 3:00 p.m.

On Friday, the Government of Venezuela expressed its solidarity with the Mapuche people of Chile, during a meeting held with leaders of the Latin American originary people. The Mapuche delegation was received by the president of the National Constituent Assembly (ANC), Diosdado Cabello, and by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Jorge Arreaza.

Cabello showed his solidarity and support with the Mapuche people, ensuring them that the information that is hidden in Chile, is brought to light in Venezuela. In that sense, the Venezuelan leader recalled the case of the young Mapuche killed by Carabineros, "to whom justice was not done."

On the other hand, Minister Arreaza said that it was an honor to have shared time with the Mapuche delegation from Chile. "All our solidarity with their causes and struggles. Our respect and commitment always. NEWEN marichiweu! (Strength a hundred times we will overcome)" Arreaza said in her Twitter account.