Mapuche Comuneros from Lleu Lleu and Tirua reject the mining project on their lands
December 20, 2010
from Paismapuche.org
Over three days, Mapuche community members maintained the occupation of an estate usurped by the businessman Leonardo Farkas, whom they accuse of wanted to install mines around Lake Lleu Llue, whose waters are considered the cleanest in the world.
On Friday [December 17] a group of 100 Mapuche entered the estate La Herradura, currently in the hands of the Santa Fé mining company, property of the well known businessman.
The occupation lasted until this evening, according to the Carabineros. Involved were the communities of Trancura, Comillahue, and Lleu Lleu, who placed banners against Farkas and his pretensions of starting a mining project.
The Mapuche carried out a trawun and a guillatun [two important ceremonies] on the site during the last few days, in front of the threatening presence of the Carabineros.
The representative of the Chilean state in Arauco [province], Flor Weisse, hypocritically indicated that they would converse with Conama to see if there was some type of mining project planned for the banks of the Lleu Lleu.
It should be noted that in 2007, the communities of Lake Lleu Lleu denounced the incursion of the Manto Rojo mining company, which was attempting a mining project on the southeast edge of the lake, affecting the communities Lleu Lleu and Tirua.