Mapuche Leader Ñirripil Acquitted of Robbery and Extortion Charges in Şili

The Criminal Court located in the city of Temuco, Şili, announced its verdict regarding Guillermo Ñirripil Cheuquepán, the traditional leader (lonko) of the Mapuche people. The case, in which the prosecution demanded a 22-year prison sentence, was largely dismissed by the court. The Lonko was fully acquitted and cleared of the armed robbery and two separate extortion charges he faced before the judge. However, the court ruled that he only committed the lesser offense of 'threat.' This decision was noted as a remarkable development in terms of the rejection of the prosecutor's demand for a heavy sentence.

The verdict was announced on Thursday following an intense trial process lasting seven sessions. Throughout the duration of the trial, a massive demonstration of support was organized in front of the courthouse. Over a hundred people belonging to 21 Mapuche communities from different regions such as Lautaro, Curacautín, Victoria, Lonquimay, and Perquenco maintained an uninterrupted vigil in front of the court. Community members demonstrated great social support by demanding justice for their traditional leader. This massive participation revealed that the case was not only of a legal dimension but also deeply meaningful for the local indigenous peoples in the region.

During the hearings, the defense team led by Luis Acuña and Mapuche criminal defense attorney Valentina Pozas managed to refute the evidence presented by the prosecution. Sources close to Ñirripil's circle claimed that Prosecutor Miguel Ángel Velásquez Droguett used illegal and biased methods to prosecute an ancestral authority. The defense argued that the prosecution relied solely on the testimonies of timber companies and certain individuals, and unlawfully reused evidence from a previous case. Furthermore, it was claimed that official agreements previously reached to resolve the disputes between the parties were deliberately ignored. The defense's convincing arguments played a decisive role in the court's dismissal of the serious charges.

The trial process also came to the forefront with a historic and unique event that took place on Tuesday, 7 Temmuz. Lonko Florentino Curican testified in court in accordance with the rights provided by the International Labour Organization's (ILO) Convention No. 169. Curican gave his testimony entirely in Mapuzungun, the Mapuche language, before the judicial panel and the parties. During this testimony, professional interpreters were employed to ensure accurate translation of the language, ensuring the process complied with legal standards. This situation was considered a significant milestone in the Şili justice system in terms of the use of indigenous languages and the consequent preservation of cultural diversity in judicial proceedings.

Although acquitted of the main charges, the case is not entirely concluded, and the process is ongoing. The court will announce its final decision on 20 Temmuz, which will determine exactly what sentence Ñirripil will face for the 'threat' offense. Valeria Ñirripil Lincopi, the family's spokesperson, criticized the conviction for the threat charge, suggesting it was a deliberate effort to keep the leader in prison. According to Lincopi's statements, the communities do not accept this decision as a defeat. All Mapuche communities emphasized that they will continue all their mobilizations and demonstrations without interruption to defend their righteous cause up to and beyond the date the final verdict is announced.