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Angol: Court Postpones Formal Charges Against 17 Accused of Kidnapping Police Officers Until Late July

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The Angol Court postponed the formal charges against17 members of the Mapuche module in the prisonof that city, accused of kidnapping three police officers on May 7.

Prosecutor Carlos Cornejo stated that "the hearing had already been scheduled since May 26 of this year, and there was ample time for the defenses to make the necessary arrangements."

After a debate, "the court rescheduled the formal hearing, setting it for July 31 at 9:20 AM in the Angol Guarantee Court."

The 17 defendants are Juan Ignacio Cortes Penchulef, Ismael Elias Fritz Ñancul, Simón Alejandro Huenchullan Millanao, Joaquin Wenulef Huenchullan Queipul, Sergio Isaias Huentecol Melinao, Alejandro Andrés Liguen Venegas, Fabián Alejandro Llanca Nahuelpi, Boris Mariano Llanca Nahuelpi, Hanthu Lemunthu Llanca Quidel, Freddy Jonathan Marileo Marileo, Joaquin Isamel Millanao Queipul, Pedro Sebastián Palacios Cañuta, Jorge Froilan Palacios Cañuta, Máximo Iván Queipul Huenchullan, Juan Patricio Queipul Millanao, Anthoni Luciano Torres Toro, and Miguel Ángel Torres Toro.

HIGH TENSION OVER FORMAL CHARGES

The transfer of six of the prisoners to be formally charged—identified as the group's leaders—from the indigenous module of Angol prison to other cities following the May 7 riot has sparked a series of attacks in the southern macrozone in recent weeks.

Several of these attacks have been claimed by the Mapuche Malleco Resistance, as was the case withthe burning of a Catholic chapel in Victoria last Friday. 

Another attack occurred early Monday morning in Vilcún, where members of the Weichan Auka Mapu (WAM) organization burned a shed and a backhoe, leaving behind a banner demanding the release of imprisoned Mapuche community members.

The president of the Association of Forestry Contractors, René Muñoz, expressed doubts about the government's performance on security matters.

"There is no progress in terms of prevention. No arrests have been made against these terrorist groups acting with impunity, and terrorism continues to advance in the area," criticized the union leader.

Meanwhile, from the government, José Montalva, the presidential delegate in La Araucanía, stated, "We are working to dismantle these armed groups, and we have already dismantled organizations that were stealing lumber. Objectively, we have seen over a 200% increase in arrests."

Source:www.cooperativa.cl