PUBLIC AI Index: AMR 22/002/2006

23 May 2006

Further Information on UA 121/06 (AMR 22/001/2006, 05 May 2006) – Medical Concern

CHILE Juan Carlos Huenulao (m) ]

Florencio Jaime Marileo (m) ] Indigenous Mapuches

Juan Patricio Marileo (m) ]

Patricia Roxana Troncoso (f), Mapuche sympathiser

The four people named above, who began a hunger strike on 13 March, were examined in hospital and force-fed after this UA was issued, but then returned to Temuco prison. They abandoned their hunger strike on 14 May, but resumed it on 20 May, and are now demanding that the parliament pass a bill now being debated which would grant them some form of conditional release. Their health is in grave danger.

The four had apparently suspended their hunger strike when they heard about the bill, which would modify the original Anti-Terrorism Act and could allow the hunger strikers conditional release.

They are all serving 10-year jail sentences: they also have to pay a fine of 425 million pesos, equivalent to US$827,000, not US$827 as stated in the original UA.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language:

- asking the authorities to ensure that Juan Carlos Huenulao, Florencio Jaime Marileo, Juan Patricio Marileo and Patricia Roxana Troncoso, receive adequate medical attention;

- pointing out that the Minister of Interior stated on 28 April that the Anti-Terrorist Law would no longer be applied to the Mapuche people, and asking the authorities to make clear that it will not be applied to any Mapuche people, including these four;

- asking for assurances that the hunger strikers are not going to be subjected to further suffering as a result of force feeding.

APPEALS TO:

President

Señora Presidenta de la República de Chile

Sra. Michelle Bachelet

Presidencia de la Republica

Palacio de la Moneda

Santiago, Chile

Fax: +56 2 690 4958

Salutation: Señora Presidenta de la República de Chile/Dear Madam President of the Republic

Governor, IX Region

Señor Gobernador Región Araucanía

Sr. Eduardo Klein Koch

Bulnes 590 piso 2

Temuco, Chile

Fax: +56 4 520 8217

Salutation: Señor Intendente/ Dear Regional Governor

Interior Minister

Señor Ministro del Interior

Sr. Andrés Zaldívar Larraín

Ministerio del Interior

Palacio de la Moneda

Santiago, Chile

Fax: +56 2 699 2165

Email: ie@interior.gov.cl

Salutation: Señor Ministro/ Dear Minister

COPIES TO:

Foreign Minister

Señor Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores

Sr. Alejandro Foxley Rioseco

Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores

Edificio Jose Miguel Carrera

Teatinos 180

Santiago, Chile

Fax: +56 2 6994202 / 698 3592

Email: minrel@minrel.cl

and to diplomatic representatives of Chile accredited to your country.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 4 July 2006.