Chile: Seven churches destroyed in Mapuche territory

The Chilean newspaper El Mercurio reported on 9 March 2016 that the Catholic church of San Sebastiƒ¡n de Vilcƒºn has been burned to the ground in the Diocese of Villarica, Chile, which is located at the heart of the homeland of the Mapuche indians. The perpetrators of this attack are members of the Mapuche community. The attack occurred less then a week after the eviction of the Seminary San Fidel in Padre Las Casas which a Mapuche group had occupied for two years. One of the leaders of this Mapuche group declared; "We will not rest until we have expelled the Church from the Mapuche territory." Dennis Petri, persecution analyst for World Watch Research, comments: "Historically, church destructions are not common in Chile. Recently, however, a total of 4 Catholic churches and 3 Protestant churches have been destroyed by Mapaches, according to a report by the Chilean newspaper La Tercera on 15 March. This series of attacks seem to be a classic example of Tribal antagonism. The churches are targeted for their presumed ties with the Chilean State. It is likely that a radical segment of the Mapuches want to make a statement in support of their demand for increased political autonomy as part of the constitutional reforms that are currently being discussed in the country. It is surprising, however, that churches have been targeted, considering that 87% of the Mapuches are Christians."