Article: Chile cracks down on indigenous activists.(Plight of Forests)

Four indigenous activists and a supporter were recently sentenced to ten years in prison on charges of terrorism in relation to the Mapuches' struggle to reclaim lands seized by the Chilean state and forestry companies, notably Arauco and CMPC. They will join a growing list of Mapuche prisoners in Chilean jails, including community leaders--"Lonkos" in the native language--while a dozen more await trial. Some have had to go into hiding to avoid facing a judicial system that they feel "criminalizes the indigenous cause and has a racist bias against the Mapuche."

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The five defendants were charged with "terrorist arson" under ...

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