Trial Begins Against Lonko Guillermo Ñirripil: Communities Accuse Chilean Authorities of Judicial Persecution

Original article: Partió juicio contra lonko Guillermo Ñirripil: comunidades acusan en tribunales de Temuco nueva persecución penal contra autoridad mapuche

Mapuche Lonko Faces Second Trial in Temuco Amid Allegations of Persecution and Judicial Racism

Lonko Guillermo Ñirripil from the Miguel Cheuquepán community is facing a new trial starting Wednesday at the First Chamber of the Oral Criminal Court in Temuco, which is expected to last seven days. The traditional Mapuche leader is currently serving a sentence of 5 years and one day in prison for extortion from a previous case.

In this second trial, the Prosecutor’s Office is seeking a sentence of 8 years in prison for one of the charges, along with two additional sentences of 7 years each for extortion. Communities argue that the accusations are based on the testimony of landowners, disregarding previous agreements made between the parties involved.

The first day of trial featured witness testimonies from the prosecution, including a landowner, a worker, and an active Carabinero officer. Notably, the prosecutor overseeing the case changed: initially led by Enrique Vásquez, he was replaced by Miguel Ángel Velásquez.

It is significant that prosecutor Enrique Vásquez was under scrutiny for being mentioned in parliamentary reports and for his role in the Hurricane Operation, a notorious case involving evidence tampering and the planting of evidence by Carabineros. His position has also sparked controversy due to alleged connections with attorney Luis Hermosilla.

“A Promised Word Is Not a Crime”

Valeria Ñirripil Lincopi, spokesperson for the lonko’s family, stated from the courtroom: “Today, July 1st, the trial against the lonko begins. We are once again here due to accusations from large landowners and forestry companies. We want to express as a people that a promised word is not a crime, that there is persecution and criminalization against the Mapuche people. Additionally, we invite all lamgen and those aware of the political Mapuche issue to join us, as the State has made it seem that what we do is wrong.”

Watch video with statements:

The communities claim that the current accusations contain the same elements as the first conviction, reinforcing the notion of political persecution rather than a genuine search for justice.

Human rights observers and dozens of individuals from Mapuche communities in Curacautín, Lautaro, Perquenco, and Victoria attended the trial, with about fifty community members present outside the court to support the lonko and prepare communal meals for those attending, which will continue throughout the seven days of the trial.

.