After over 50 days, the imprisoned Mapuche hunger-strikers have finally received a response from the executive branch. Minister of the Interior, Rodrigo Hinzpeter announced yesterday afternoon that the government was set to send a bill to congress, reforming the country’s military justice system and anti-terrorist law.
The bill—due to come before congress in the coming week—should limit the jurisprudence of the military justice system, and change the system that allows crimes to be classified as terrorist.
“The bill’s purpose is to reform and limit the power of the military justice system in our country. It is true that we have a military justice system that at times has more range than is proper for a democratic government” Hinzpeter is reported saying.
Family members of the striking prisoners say that Hinzpeter’s announcement is a first step, but that they will launch their own proposal in the coming days. Meanwhile–spurred on by human rights lawyers who have announced their skepticism that proposed reforms would guarantee changes that would make a difference in the Mapuche conflict—the 32 imprisoned Mapuches will continue their hunger strike. Jaime Madariaga, the lawyer representing the strikers, warns that the proposed changes may only give more power to the Public Ministry, a far cry from preventing the unfair prosecution of Mapuches under it.
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