Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - From 6 to 21 August 2004 the community of Rev. Oreste Benzi (Association John XXIII) will open a camp in Chile.
The main objective is to investigate the situation of the Mapuche Indios living in southern part of the country. Through sharing daily life and work the team will verify the situation of the rights and culture of these oppressed peoples and the consequences of the Pinochet dictatorship. The Mapuche, robbed of their land and livelihood, are victims of acts of racism: they are paid lower wages than other Chileans and have no social assistance. Today indigenous peoples in Chile are no more than 5% of the population and the Mapuche are about 500,000. The occupation of the lands still in possession of the Mapuche by multinational timber companies and the Bío-Bío region dam system with its hydroelectric power stations, threaten to wipe the Mapuche from the face of the earth. In the Bío-Bío valley there are still a number of Mapuche communities which continue to live their customs and culture.
The team will stay ten days in Valdivia for formation in human rights with meetings, testimony and practical work activities, and four days in Santiago to learn about Chilean history and about the local John XXIII association. Work is not the main objective of the camp but it will serve to build inter-personal relations with the local people and local John XXIII association and with the Mapuche. The alternation of moments of formation and meeting can be an effective tool for investigating and understanding the local situation. (P.L.R.) (Agenzia Fides 9/7/2004 - Righe 20; Parole 280)
