Sunday 4 October 2015

Chile: Fugitive Mapuche militant Cristian Melinao recaptured


















Cristian Levinao Melinao who was serving a 10 year sentenced for robbery with violence to fund the Mapuche struggle decided to escape from CET prison along with fellow prisoner Hector Moreno Muñoz who was recaptured a day later.

From hiding Cristian issued a video statement rejecting the legal charges against him and outlining the position of the Mapuche struggle.

At dawn on September 20, 2015, an incendiary device set fire to the retired gendarmes building. Proceedings were initiated quickly to find those responsible for the arson attack against former jailers. In this context, on September 22nd heavily armed GOPE troops entered a home in Padre Las Casas. During the raid troops allegedly found ammunition, an M-16 rifle, a .22 caliber revolver, a pistol, a sub-machine gun, mechanical detonators, explosives and other devices.

Felipe Duran, a freelance photographer was arrested in the house. The 'anti-Marxist Movement HUSAR' group had stated days before that they were tracking Felipe for being a 'terrorist' and for maintaining relations with anarchists.

This group pointed out that the arrests were carried out thanks to their 'intelligence' and their coordination with the police.

In the raided home, police managed to arrest another person who despite giving a false name and refusing to provide information was eventually identified as the fugitive Cristian Levinao Melinao. Both were transferred to a police station and then to court under heavy security. At court Cristian announced: "This is a political persecution by the state and the government."

The back slapping between oppressors 

In Santiago, Mahmud Aleuy, undersecretary of the interior stated: "Fortunately he will now fulfill the remainder of his sentence in a detention center accordingly." Interior Minister  Jorge Burgos stated: "From the standpoint of people avoiding crimes with impunity this is certainly good news." Meanwhile the infamous Bruno Villalobos, current CEO of police and former DIPOLCAR when bringing cases again other comrades, was happy that the police operation "is the culmination of very good intelligence work, the only thing we want is to bring peace to our citizens."

Finally, the mayor of La Araucanaia, Andres Jouannet told reporters: "When one does not adapt to society, then it is understood that you  still live with other people and must respect their rules and laws. In cases where this is not clear or they do not understand what is happening then we have to make these people function within society and respect rules and fundamental laws."

The prosecutor Cristian Paredes highlighted the coordination of high complexity with police re: the whereabouts of Leviano, "that allows us today to celebrate two important achievements: a person who escaped custody was apprehended and will be made by the courts to effectively serve the penalty imposed upon him which is no less than 10 years and one day.

Formalized charges

The Mapuche Crisitan Leviano Melinao was taken to Angol prison to continue his 10 years sentence and as formally charged with concealing his identity and various offences under the arms control law. Meanwhile Felipe is being prosecuted under the arms control law and was taken to jail in Temuco. The court has given the prosecution a 45 day investigation period.

Following the arrests and formalization of charges, the fascist paramilitary group 'Husares' feverishly issued a defamatory statement that also demonstrates it's active participation in the police force.

Solidarity with Cristian and Felipe! 

(via Publicacion Refractario)