A press team was attacked in the “red zone” of the Chilean Araucanía: one seriously injured

Members of a Chilean press team were injured last Saturday after being attacked by strangers in the “red zone” of Araucanía, adding to the list of those affected in the area, which has grown to around 150 since 2015 ..

The team, composed of the journalist and representative of the National Television of Chile (TVN, the state channel), Iván Nuñez, and the cameraman Esteban Sánchez, carried out information and coordination tasks in the field to arrange a meeting with important Mapuche leaders, when they were injured in the shooting.

Nuñez and Sánchez They traveled the P72-S road after having held a meeting with Héctor Llaitul, spokesperson for the Mapuche group Coordinadora Arauco-Malleco (CAM), for an interview with the group’s leaders.

However, after the meeting, the group suffered armed attack. Sánchez lost vision in his right eye and suffered further impacts to the chest. Núñez, for his part, suffered minor injuries to his forearm.

The regional prosecutor’s office of Biobío took charge of the investigation and announced that “it does not exclude any hypothesis”. At the same time, the investigative police (IDP) conducts the expertise on the ground.

Mapuche representatives deny their participation in the events

Moments after impact, Mapuche communities in the region have ruled out any connection to the attack. Héctor Llaitul, spokesperson for the Arauco-Malleco coordinator, said: “We have nothing to do with this fact.”

“The Mapuche movement has a very clear ethic of political and moral action which has to do with respect for life. and with the recovery of our territory and Mapuche life in all its broad sense, ”said Llaitul.

In conversation with Infobae, the historic Mapuche chief and current spokesperson for the All Lands Council, Aucán Huilcamán, also repudiated this attack. “This fact is not consistent with the Mapuche movement who fight for the restoration of their rights, in particular self-determination and the restitution of their usurped lands, he said.

In addition, the chief has expressed his suspicions about the events. “It seems that the events originate from anti-Mapuche groups that operate and deploy various actions of racial hatred, such as the group led by APRA (Association for Peace and Reconciliation in Araucanía). However, his group and its leaders have a direct relationship with the government of President Sebastián Piñera and have acted on several occasions to smear the legitimate Mapuche cause, ”he said.

As, government spokesman Jaime Bellolio condemned “cowardly attack and terrorist violence” against the journalistic team, something which, he said, “intends to prevent freedom of information and peace in the region”. In addition the filing of a complaint for attempted murder has been announced against those responsible, and increased security in the region.

From the state channel they expressed their total condemnation “This terrible act of violence which seeks to hamper freedom of speech and the press.” “We reiterate our unconditional support for our professionals,” added their authorities.

In the last few hours, it was reported that the channel would help the injured cameraman for life. “We will support Esteban and his family for life, in whatever he needs from now on,” said Alfredo Ramírez, press director of Televisión Nacional de Chile.

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