According to a report by Bio Bio Chile on 3 August 2018, a Protestant church of the Christian Missionary Alliance in La Araucania, Chile was
burned down in an arson attack. Police suspect members of the Mapuche militant group "Weichan Auka Mapuche" to be the perpertrators, as leaflets were found in the vicinity bearing the slogan: "If there is no justice for the people, there is no peace for the government!"
Rossana Ramirez, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, comments: "Mapuche groups are pressing for the release of some of their members from prison and this is greatly affecting churches in Chile. The state authorities do not seem to be taking preventive measures or carrying out the investigations necessary for lowering the risks suffered by Christians, especially in the Araucania area. On the contrary, the Chilean authorities have provided benefits to Mapuche leaders that it would never grant to a Christian community. For instance, according to Infobae reporting on 28 July 2018, a Mapuche leader - sentenced for murdering two people - was allowed to
leave prison for two days to attend a ritual that "˜would renew his spiritual powers".
Rossana Ramirez adds: "The State is not neutral. Indeed, pressure against Christians is being encouraged by the authorities. A recent ruling by a Chilean tribunal court is a good example of this. An Evangelical church was
fined 5 million Chilean pesos for a pastor"s alleged hate-speech against the LGBTI group Movilh (Latercera, 1 August 2018). Thus, the encouragement of Mapuche religious practice, combined with the lack of interest in punishing those who attack churches, plus the censorship of the Christian leaders" religious freedom, all goes to illustrate the secularist and intolerant context in which the Church is currently immersed. Since one of the main drivers of persecution is the government and pressure groups supported by the State, it will be increasingly difficult for Christians in Chile to demand protection and the guarantee of its liberties."
