Chilean political prisoners call off their hunger strike

bolivia / peru / ecuador / chile | repression / prisoners | press release Sunday July 17, 2005 19:54 by chacalon - Anarkismo Editorial Group

No struggle without solidarity

The Political Prisoners have called off their hunger strike, leaving them in a weak condition but having obtained their political objective. A step forward has been made and we hope that soon their freedom will be a reality.

PUBLIC STATEMENT BY CHILEAN POLITICAL PRISONERS

On 5th July, our Bill for our immediate freedom was passed by the Senate Human Rights Commission. Today, 6th July, it goes before the Commission for Constitution, Legislation and Justice, bringing to an end the process through the various commissions. The next step will be the vote on the Bill in the parliament on 12th July.

Our freedom has been enabled thanks also to our decision and legitimate right to use a hunger strike as a tool in this process. We have always believed that it was our turn for freedom and for that reason we began this beautiful, just and dignified mobilization.

The parliamentarians who supported our freedom have asked us to call off our hunger strike as a gesture towards the final, concrete resolution of the whole process. Accordingly we hereby announce:

1. We are happy with the concrete progress of the Bill and we already feel the breeze of freedom.

2. We salute and appreciate the magnitude of the active demonstrations of support and solidarity of all those dear fighters who make up our support, the faithful reflection of years of struggle. In the light of all this, we trust that they will also support the decisions that we have made. We also salute the various expressions of goodwill expressed in Chile and abroad.

3. To the comrades who have played a key role in the political management of the situation with the government and parliamentarians, we send our recognition and respect.

4. We have decided to suspend our hunger strike as an expression of the desire to achieve and enjoy what we have sought - our freedom.

5. We have put our trust in the publicly-expressed will of the parliamentarians and government, though we will be vigilant and we are prepared to recommence our action with even greater determination should there be any further impediment to our objective being reached quickly.

We have entered the final stage of this long struggle. Our purpose has advanced; our comrade Julio Peña must be pardoned by President Lagos; René Salfate must receive his prison rights. This generation of political prisoners has now come closer to being able to walk the streets, squares and neighborhoods of our town.

We remain alert, holding true to our dreams and our goals, in the the wit for the final vote of the Senate.

We ask our families and supporters to remain alert and to participate in the march for freedom of 7th July at 7.00pm in Plaza Brasil, which will be an opportunity to demonstrate our unity and explain the reasons for our freedom.

Stop the anti-terrorist law!! Freedom now for all Political Prisoners!!

Claudio Melgarejo, Hardy Peña, Pablo Vargas "Convergencia para la Libertad" Political Prisoners Collective

6th July 2005

Translation by anarkismo.net