President Michelle Bachelet addressed Chileans yesterday following the death of Fabian Facundo Mendoza Collio in the La Araucania region on Wednesday. Mendoza, a Mapuche Indian, was killed after he resisted eviction from an estate known as La Laguna by the Chilean police. Eight Mapuche and three police officers were injured in the clash that broke out following Mendoza's death. Additionally, an agriculture warehouse in the area was set on fire, causing approximately $1 million in damages.
“Nothing justifies violence in La Araucania," Bachelet remarked. She sent her condolences to Mendoza's family. "It must be understood that the only way to resolve the legitimate historical demands of the Mapuche people is through dialogue,” she stated. The police officer who killed Mendoza was detained pending an investigation into the incident. The government also announced plans to send a special delegation to the area to "work with people on the ground", as well as to ensure a more "profound" implementation of the government's indigenous policy.
The Mapuche have vowed to continue to seize land in Southern Chile that they say is rightfully theirs.
Online sources- Associated Press, Latin American Herald Tribune
Image- Latin American Herald Tribune
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