Mapuche community members interrupt traffic along rural road in Collupulli

TEMUCO.- Early this morning, Mapuche community members from the sector of Ranquilco Bajo of Collipulli, located in the Araucanía Region, blocked traffic along a rural road that links the town to the indigenous reservations.

According to reports, the individuals used trees and trunks that were cut from the Peumo Malleco and Los Maitenes premises of the Arauco forestry company.

"The trees were placed between the 6th and 17th kilometres of the road that joins Collipulli to the Mapuche communities of Loncomahuida, Requel Lemun and Requel Millán, among others", stated Malleco police officer Colonel Iván Bezmalinovic.

Meanwhile, a leader of the communities, identified as César Curipán Levipán was prohibited today from going near the Malleco City Government building and is required to sign in at the Collipulli Public Prosecutor's Office on a monthly basis after being charged with public disorder for taking over a state building yesterday afternoon.

Furthermore, some 30 truckers have kept their vehicles parked along Ruta 5 Sur in Collipulli since yesterday to protest against the several attacks that have taken place in the area as a result of Mapuche conflicts.