Where is Julia Chuñil? We Demand An Investigation!
Where is Julia Chuñil? We Demand An Investigation!
The Issue
To The Chilean Ambasadors of the UK, USA, Sweden, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, France and Italy.
On November 8th, 2024, 70-year-old Mapuche elder Julia Chunil left her home accompanied by her dog Cholito but she never returned home. The Mapuche community leader and land defender had previously warned her relatives ’if I do not return, you know who did this’ before she vanished without a trace into Araucanian wilderness.
The disappearance of Chunil is the latest incident in the so-called ‘Mapuche conflict’ in Chile’s Southern region, Araucanía, where indigenous people are locked into a fight for survival amid the increasing exploitation of the area’s rich natural resources by unscrupulous national and multinational companies. The dispute that has led to the disappearance is a forest in Mafil, Los Rios, Araucania. Amid ownership wrangling, Chunil, a well-respected community elder stepped-up efforts to ensure that the native forest (Fundo Lafrir) did not fall into the wrong hands. Local entreupenuer Juan Carlos Morstand made several death threats before she vanished.
We Call Upon Authorities to Investigate NOW!
Image courtesy of MemoArte Chile, Marcela Libuy Hidalgo @lunaconlunares
289
The Issue
To The Chilean Ambasadors of the UK, USA, Sweden, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, France and Italy.
On November 8th, 2024, 70-year-old Mapuche elder Julia Chunil left her home accompanied by her dog Cholito but she never returned home. The Mapuche community leader and land defender had previously warned her relatives ’if I do not return, you know who did this’ before she vanished without a trace into Araucanian wilderness.
The disappearance of Chunil is the latest incident in the so-called ‘Mapuche conflict’ in Chile’s Southern region, Araucanía, where indigenous people are locked into a fight for survival amid the increasing exploitation of the area’s rich natural resources by unscrupulous national and multinational companies. The dispute that has led to the disappearance is a forest in Mafil, Los Rios, Araucania. Amid ownership wrangling, Chunil, a well-respected community elder stepped-up efforts to ensure that the native forest (Fundo Lafrir) did not fall into the wrong hands. Local entreupenuer Juan Carlos Morstand made several death threats before she vanished.
We Call Upon Authorities to Investigate NOW!
Image courtesy of MemoArte Chile, Marcela Libuy Hidalgo @lunaconlunares
289
The Decision Makers
Petition created on 9 January 2025