To the Mapuche nation, to the various lov and communities, to Mapuche families, to the various political prisoners incarcerated in other prisons of the colonial state, to the conscious Chilean people, to national and international public opinion, we, the undersigned Mapuche political prisoners, announce the beginning of an indefinite liquid-only hunger strike for the reasons explained below:
Through this document, we inform you that we are currently being held in maximum security module 33 of the Bío Bío Penitentiary Center in the city of Concepción, subjected to a regime of maximum isolation, with 22 hours of confinement and only 2 hours of privacy. In the prison yard, our status as political prisoners, and even more so as Mapuche people, is not respected, despite our being formally charged and awaiting trial. The prison guards have consistently violated international treaties regulating the prison conditions of Indigenous peoples, and even their own internal legislation.
This isolation is compounded by the constant denial of access to information, such as radio or television. Our visits must be conducted via intercom, with the exception of one in-person visit per month. This regime of premature and racist punishment is further exacerbated by the denial of deliveries containing traditional foods from our culture and the exclusion from participating in Mapuche religious activities held periodically within the prison.
It is for the reasons stated above that today, Monday, January 5th, starting at 10:00 AM, we have begun an indefinite liquid-only hunger strike, demanding the following points, which are summarized in the following petition:
1. End to the isolation regime and release from the maximum security module.
2. Creation of a module for Mapuche community members, both convicted and accused, within the Bío Bío Correctional Center.
These two measures are complemented by the following demands:
1. That the prison guards not apply sanctions for the hunger strike we have just begun.
2. Two in-person visits per month.
3. The right to conjugal visits.
4. Attendance at Mapuche ceremonies within the prison.
5. Right to radio and television
6. Right to possess Mapuche instruments and clothing
7. Right to vocational workshops
8. Monthly video calls to communicate with our families
9. Right to hygiene supplies
10. Right to receive packages
11. Prompt visits and respect for our Mapuche families and authorities
Through this document, we also notify the national and regional directorates of the Gendarmerie, the National Institute for Human Rights, and the administration of the Cañete Intercultural Hospital of our mobilization.
– Freedom and respect for all Mapuche political prisoners!
– End the militarization of our territory!
Signed by the Mapuche Political Prisoners:
Federico Astete Catrileo
Tomás Antihuen Santi
Yeferson Antihuen Santi
Felipe Antihuen Santi
Nicolás Rivas Paillao
Maximum Security Module CCP Bio Bio.
Concepción, Monday, January 5, 2026.
SOURCE: Radio Villa Francia
Via https://www.resumenlatinoamericano.org/2026/01/05/nacion-mapuche-229/