13 May 2011

Amnesty notes lack of recoginition of indigenous peoples in Chile

1:11 pm on 13 May 2011

Amnesty International says indigenous peoples in Chile continue to be without constitutional recognition.

In its annual report, Amnesty says a draft bill before Congress proposing constitutional recognition of indigenous peoples was given urgent status in September, but it was withdrawn in October.

It says the bill has not been discussed by the end of the year.

Amnesty also notes that from August onwards, indigenous groups on Rapa Nui protested against the continuing failure to return traditional land.

In response, the government set up working groups to discuss their concerns in September, but many clan members objected to the terms of the discussion.

In December, it says, more than 20 people were injured in violent clashes between security forces and clan members occupying buildings and land.