Mapuche conflict: Two churches burned in Chile

Two Christian churches have been burned in Chile on March 31, the fourth and fifth alleged arson cases in 24 hours. The perpetrators, according to International Christian Concern in their April 7 report, are supporters of the Mapuche, an indigenous people who are said to be trying to get rid of those who practice religion that contradicts their beliefs.

"We never imagined that these attacks would occur in our community. There is no conflict in our community," Pastor Jose Dario Pineda said, as quoted in the report by ICC. "We are all Christians and live in peace."

The first of the two cases is the burning of the Catholic church of Santa Joaquina. A pamphlet was reportedly found with the words "grandparents and ancestors have also been burned to death." This has led to speculations of the Mapuche being responsible for the fire as the note is presumed to be referring to the violence experienced by the indigenous people's ancestors under Spanish rule.

The second case is the burning of Christian Union, an Evangelical church in Antinao. The pamphlet found in the scene contained a request to free Mapuche prisoners as well as the message, "We are going to burn all churches."

"ICC is very troubled to hear of these attacks on churches in Chile. Chile's constitution and other laws protect religious freedom for their people," said ICC advocacy manager Nate Lance.

On April 1, a special prosecutor was assigned to investigate and as of April 2, 11 people were arrested and charged.

"We are pleased that a special prosecutor has been named to investigate and hold the perpetrators of these crimes responsible, and that arrests have been made," Lance said. "It is our prayer that this action from the government will put a swift end to this persecution and restore religious freedom to Christians in the area."

However, it may not be the churches per se that the Mapuche are fighting against. There have also been many complaints from land and business owners in the area. The indigenous people, labeled as terrorists by the government, are said to be trying to reclaim their 81.5 million acres of ancestral land, which they have been fighting for for the past 500 years since the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores.

The article by Care2.com says that from 1860 to 1885 alone, about 100,000 Mapuche were massacred, and their land was given by the government to private landowners. More recently, in 1997, the tension heightened when the Ralco Hydroelectric Plant was built in the center of their land.

The Mapuche are said to be demanding the return of their ancestral lands, for their cultural identity, and for jurisdictional autonomy.