[resumen.cl] On August 18 was announced that Celestino Córdova had ended his lengthy hunger strike after reaching an agreement with the Chilean government. However, a group of Mapuche political prisoners in Angol prison are continuing their hunger strike, which is in its 112^th day, demanding that the government comply with ILO Convention 169. RESUMEN interviewed their spokesperson, Rodrigo Curipán, who discussed how critical the situation is.

The agreement reached between Celestino Córdova and the government that allowed him to end his hunger strike is not the end of this crisis in Wallmapu (Mapuche Land), because a group of Mapuche political prisoners at Angol prison marked their 112th day on hunger strike today, demanding that the Chilean government comply with Convention 169, which Chile signed in 2008. RESUMEN interviewed their spokesperson, Rodrigo Curipán, who discussed their delicate state of health, their treatment at the hands of the Gendarmería (Chilean Prison Service), and the prospects they see of the government providing swift resolution to this life-or-death situation.

What's the condition of the prisoners who have gone without food for 112?

The peñis (brothers) began a dry hunger strike after 97 days on hunger strike. Three days later, they were transferred on an emergency basis to Angol hospital because the situation was highly complex. From what we’ve been told by the director of the hospital, they were hydrated there. After that, they were returned to Angol prison, where they still remain on hunger strike, but have resumed taking fluids.

Their situation is the most delicate. They had lost consciousness when they had to be transferred to hospital.

Has there been any kind of approach from the government?

We haven't had any kind of approach from the government. After machi (spiritual leader) Celestino's situation was resolved, it would be logical for there to be an approach in the coming days. We'll wait and see what the government does with us, given that ours is one of the strikes that are continuing despite the agreement with Celestino Córdova.

But has there been any specific appeal?

No, I'm speculating, because given that machi Celestino Córdova's situation has been resolved, I think that it would be appropriate for the government to take responsibility for what’s going on in Angol. As such, we think that there should be some light today that will allow us to see the situation resolved soon.

Have people from the Malleco communities resumed meetings outside the prison? What happened with the encampment they’d set up that was dismantled by police?

The encampment remains as it started the first time. It's true that the military police took it down the first day, but, within hours, it was back up, and about five or six tents have been set up since then, in which families from various Mapuche communities are continuing to shelter in order to get first-hand information, or at least find out faster, about the situation of each of the Mapuche political prisoners, both from the doctors and from the prison service.

Finally, has Dr Luis Umañana been able to come in and see the prisoners lately? What information does he have about their weight loss and their general condition?

Given how many days they've been on hunger strike, they are o longer able to move. They're basically immobile inside the tier and in each of their beds. A week ago, Umañana asked the prison service for permission to bring in a kinesiologist, because they are having mobility problems in their extremities, arms and legs.

He has continued to insist, but the prison service have indicated that they aren't able to address the issue. Ultimately, it's a bureaucratic tactic they use to delay medical assistance. You have to keep in mind that what’s best for the prison service is for prisoners to finally cease making political demands because of the suffering they’re experiencing. That continues to be the goal of the prison service. They're continuing to think about this in the same inhumane way. They've acted more like torturers than problem solvers. In this vein, they denied Dr Umaña the opportunity to bring in someone known, and he's asking for permission from the Araucanía North Health Service (Servicio de Salud Araucanía Norte). That process is still continuing, but, the longer we go without a resolution from the prison service, the worse the situation of each of the prisoners will get.

Read the original in spanish here.