Banned Books Week
CHILE
Elena Varela López
Documentary Filmmaker Harassed
NEW! Petition (PDF)
Police officers arresting Elena Varela López confiscated the research she has done over the last four years for a documentary film on the conflict between lumber companies and Chile’s Mapuche Indigenous people over the use of land. They also took from her home documents relating to the funding of the film by the National Audiovisual Fund, as well as filmmaking equipment.
Documentary filmmaker Elena Varela López was arrested by police at her home on 7 May 2008 and charged with “illegal association with intent to commit an offense” (asociación ilícita para delinquir). Since then, she has been released from detention, but remains under surveillance.
Since March 2008, authorities have arrested three documentary makers who have spoken out about the conflict between lumber companies and the Mapuche people. Amnesty International believes that the authorities have arrested Elena Varela López in an attempt to halt investigations into this conflict and to intimidate her and the Mapuche Indigenous people.
Amnesty International fears that the documentation taken from her could be used by Chilean security forces to intimidate and harass Mapuche activists and those who contributed their opinions to the research.
Amnesty International has reported ill-treatment and harassment of the Mapuche by Chilean police and has publicly criticized the Chilean authorities for using anti-terrorism law against Indigenous community members striving for their human rights and fundamental freedoms. In March 2008, the UN Committee on Human Rights expressed concern about the use of anti-terrorism legislation against members of the Mapuche community who had taken part in activities in support of Indigenous land rights. On 21 May 2008, Chile was elected as a member state to serve a three-year term on the UN Human Rights Council. As such, Chile must demonstrate commitment to uphold human rights both internationally and nationally and to cooperate fully with the Council.
Please express concern about apparent attempts to intimidate Elena Varela López and other defenders of Mapuche rights; call for guarantee of the safety of all Mapuche activists and all those named in research documents confiscated by police; and urge Chile, as a recently-elected member of the UN Human Rights Council, to uphold human rights for all.
Señora Presidenta de la República de Chile
Sra. Michelle Bachelet
Presidencia de la República
Palacio de la Moneda
Santiago, Chile
Salutation: Señora Presidenta de la República
Ambassador Mariano Fernandez
Embassy of the Republic of Chile
1732 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Salutation: Your Excellency
Airmail postage abroad: 94¢
