Government rejects Mapuche request for asylum in Switzerland

SANTIAGO.- Neftalí Carabantes, the Ministerial General Secretary of the Chilean Government affirmed today that in the judgment of the Executive branch, the petition for political asylum to Switzerland for Mapuche girl Remultray Cadin is "unfounded" since Human Rights are respected in Chile and the nation’s inhabitants are not persecuted for their ideas.

"The administration wants to express that this request for asylum  is unfounded, because in Chile we abide by the Rule of Law, public liberties are respected in Chile, there are no political prisoners, there is a separation of the powers of the State and there are no Human Rights abuses", stated Carabantes.

He went on to emphasize that the Government will communicate its opinion through the proper diplomatic channels, specifically through the embassy "when all of the required information is compiled, undoubtedly within the next few days".

Carabantes also indicated that La Moneda "hopes that our message, which will be transmitted through proper diplomatic channels, be taken into consideration" by the European country.