Key facts
- Militant Mapuche groups in Chile are facing intensified pressure from President Jose Antonio Kast's government.
- Younger Mapuche generations are increasingly adopting legal methods to defend ancestral lands.
- The Coordinadora Arauco-Malleco (CAM) advocates for an independent Mapuche state.
- Clashes over the past 30 years have resulted in nearly 40 deaths.
- Parts of southern Chile have been under a state of emergency since 2022.
- CAM founder Hector Llaitul is serving a 23-year sentence for incitement to violence and other charges.
Militant Mapuche groups in southern Chile are facing significant challenges under the new administration of President Jose Antonio Kast, who has pledged to restore order and take a tougher stance on the long-running conflict over ancestral lands. Reuters gained rare access to key Mapuche resistance centers, revealing a movement confronting lengthy prison sentences and increased state pressure.
The Mapuche, Chile's largest Indigenous group, have historically lost vast tracts of land, particularly during the 1973-1990 Augusto Pinochet dictatorship when land was transferred to forestry companies. While some Mapuche have pursued state-backed land purchases, others, like the militant organization Coordinadora Arauco-Malleco (CAM), advocate for reclaiming territory through occupations and direct action, aiming to establish an independent Mapuche state. These actions have led to clashes with security forces and landowners, resulting in nearly 40 deaths over the past three decades.
Large parts of southern Chile have been under a state of emergency since 2022, a measure extended multiple times. President Kast's government has continued this approach, with recent police raids in areas like Temucuicui leading to detentions of activists, including community spokesperson Jorge Huenchullan. His brother, Jaime Huenchullan, described the ongoing militarization as deepening resentment among the community.
Prominent figures like CAM founder Hector Llaitul are serving substantial prison sentences. Llaitul, convicted for incitement to violence and other charges, described his prosecution as political persecution aimed at suppressing Mapuche resistance. Authorities, however, view his conviction as a step toward reducing violence.
Despite the crackdown, some Mapuche communities continue to occupy ancestral lands. At Fundo Pidenco, occupied by activists since 2016, community spokesperson Orfelina Alcaman expressed a determination to stay, stating their goal is to live freely and develop their own economy. She rejected accusations of terrorism, asserting their fight is for ancestral rights. Younger generations are also increasingly turning to legal avenues, such as university studies and environmental campaigns, to defend their land.
Recently, Pelentaro Llaitul, son of Hector Llaitul, and four other young Mapuche men were sentenced to one year in prison for their alleged involvement in an attack on a forestry plantation.