Chile 'violates Indians' rights'

By Clinton Porteous
BBC, Santiago

Chile's Mapuche people have been waging a campaign to regain land

Human Rights Watch has accused Chile of violating the legal rights of indigenous people by resorting to an outdated anti-terrorism law.

The law originates from the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet and allows the use of secret witnesses and extended prison terms.

Seven indigenous Mapuche people, the country's largest indigenous group, are on trial on terrorism charges.

They have been waging a campaign to regain land they say belongs to them.

Presidential clout

In a 60-page report, Human Rights Watch accused the Chilean government of violating international conventions for the protection of legal rights.

Spokesman Jose Miguel Vivanco said the government needed to overhaul the anti-terrorism law, and stop using it against Mapuche Indians.

"They are using a law that was dictated by Pinochet 20 years ago that... has been modified in democracy, (but) still includes provisions that are inconsistent with international standards," he said.

"That law is applied to Mapuches in violation of their rights."

Some of the Mapuche protests have caused extensive damage to property and machinery, but not loss of life.

The presentation of the report was given extra impact by the presence of former Chilean President Patricio Aylwin in the audience.

His son, who leads a local human rights group, helped to write and present the report.

The use of the anti-terrorism law has been revived under the current government of President Ricardo Lagos.

One of his senior ministers has received a copy of the study.