A large march took place in the province this Thursday 24th july. The protests were against repression and the concept of «oil company governments.» The Mapuche continue to demand compliance with the laws and court rulings (including those of the Supreme Court) regarding the granting of their legal status, which has led to government repression.
More than 10,000 people—almost ten blocks—mobilized this past Thursday against the repression that the Neuquén government unleashed last Sunday against the communities within the Mapuche Confederation of Neuquén (19 people arrested and several injured), when they protested in front of the Government House against the granting of legal entities that the government led by Rolando Figueroa promised and systematically denies.
Violence against the law
The head of the march displayed a banner: «No to repression, no to oil company governments.» And a slogan: «Unity in struggle.» This is what was seen on the streets of Neuquén, among Mapuche communities, unions, human rights organizations, and social organizations, condemning state violence and the government’s lack of compliance. In 2013, the Supreme Court ordered the province of Neuquén to regularize the legal framework for Mapuche communities, but twelve years later, this remains unfulfilled.
The request for legal status in this case is from four Mapuche communities: Newen Kura (Rincón de los Sauces, VACA MUERTA), Fvta Xayen (Tratayén area, VACA MUERTA), Kelv Kura (Portezuelo, VACA MUERTA), and Ragilew Cárdenas (Picún Leufú), who had chained themselves together last week until provincial police evicted them with blows, clubs, and gunpoint. In the midst of the repression, a police officer shouted at Jorge Nawel (a leader of the Mapuche Confederation) «Get out or I’ll rip your head off,» while pointing a shotgun at his head. The situation itself demonstrates that it is the Mapuche who defend the law, the Constitution (national and provincial), and the international treaties signed by the country regarding Indigenous peoples (Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization, for example). Governments use violence to continue prolonging the demands and failing to resolve the conflict.
The Norwegian Solidarity Committee for Latin America (LAG) has been alerted about the oppression happening in Neuquen and urge members, activists and friends to keep all eyes on our Mapuche colleagues. We must continue to show our solidarity and do what we can in Norwegian to keep the community safe. We ask the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and embassies in Norway and Chile to take action.
Indigenous rights are not optional. We demand an end to legal repression and attacks against any Mapuche community member, and the return of their rightful territories.
19 people arrested and several injured
Pictures provided by Confederacion Mapuche de Neuquén shows the stateviolence used under the peaceful demonstration.


