On November 7th, 2002, a group of three police officers fire against a group of Mapuche that maintain an occupation of the Santa Elisa estate in the township of Ercilla. 17 year-old Alex Lemun received a shot in the head. On November 12th at 6:30 am in the mourning, after five days of agony, peñi [brother] Alex Lemun died murdered. The projectile was fired by Marcos Treuer, police Major, with a Winchester shotgun, loaded with lead cartridges, supposedly to “repel the armed attack.”



No one could deny the crime, as even the very police institution recognized it. Nonetheless, despite the judicial demands, the international pressure, and the many protests that followed, justice has still not been obtained.

Today, his murderer still carries out his despicable work as an officer of the Chilean National Police. Chilean justice does not recognize the murder of a Mapuche as a crime, as it seems more like an achievement in their genocide policies. We painfully proved this fact with the new terrorist crime against our people, the murder of Weichafe [warrior] Matias Catrileo, which is yet another unpunished action by the oppressive Chilean state. This, just as so many Mapuche brothers and sisters have been murdered in one way or another by the institutionalized racism in the Chilean state; sharing their fate with others as the oppressed Chilean people.

Only Mapuche justice, that which rises from the daily struggle exerted by the resisting communities, exerting their political and territorial rights, with the strength of our elders, of Chao Ngechen, will continue on the path that they defended with their lives, making sure the deaths of our Weichafes [warriors] will not be in vain.

The following is a press release made by his community and their organization at the time of his death:

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Press Release 12/11/2002

At approximately 6:30 am, Edmundo Alex Lemun Saavedra, the young and brave warrior of the Mapuche cause has died, due to a gun shot directly to the head by the Chilean National Police Force, causing irrevocable brain damage.

Today we verify the cowardice and desperation of the police that intend to deny their responsibility in the death of the Mapuche community member, who was only 17 years old. Today, we prove how the different bodies of the Chilean State go to such irrational and brutal lengths to protect the investments that national and international enterprises have made on our ancient territory, reaffirming the demise of a capitalist economic system.

The Chilean National Police, the Ricardo Lagos government, the political parties of "La Concertacion" coalition, as with the Right, parliamentarians, and the general apparatus of this oppressive State (subordinate to the interests of corporations), should assume the historical responsibility of murdering a Mapuche during this new stage of our struggle as a People.

We declare as the Mapuche communities in conflict of Arauco, Malleco and Cautin, that we will not silence our protest; we will begin to confront the exterminating war that the Chilean State has declared on us.

There have been many Mapuche that have given their lives for the dignity and freedom of their People in our long history. Today, we must include Alex Lemun Saavedra who demonstrated strength and resistance up to his last moments, which characterises Mapuche youth that day to day compromise themselves with ongoing strength, in reclaiming their political and territorial rights as a Mapuche Nation.

We call on all Mapuche brothers to turn this moment of pain to strength and energy to continue struggling, in order to continue the reclamation process of our lands, to fortify territorial control, continue resisting and advancing towards National Mapuche Liberation.

Weuwain!!!!!
From Mapuche Territory, November 12, 2002
COORDINADORA MAPUCHE ARAUCO MALLECO
(Arauco -Malleco Coordinating Committee)

Distributed by: The Women's Coordinating Committee Chile-Canada
Email: wccc_98@hotmail.com