Weichán Auka Mapu

{{Short description|Armed Mapuche revolutionary organization from Chile}}

{{Infobox militant organization

| name = Rebel Territory Struggle

| logo = Logo_Weichan_Auka_Mapu.jpg

| caption = The group's logo, commonly used on the pamphlets left behind after their attacks.

| native_name = Weichán Auka Mapu

| native_name_lang = arn

| leader = Collective leadership

| foundation = Mid-{{Start year|2011}}

| dates =

| split = Coordinadora Arauco-Malleco

| country = {{flag|Chile}}

| motives = Vindication, recovery and liberation of the Mapuche historical territories over the Chilean State

| area = Southern Zone:

| ideology = Collectivist anarchism
Anti-capitalism
Anti-colonialism
Anti-fascism
Indigenism
Independence anarchism

| position = Far-left

| status = Active

| size = {{circa}} 20 militants

| allies = *18px Coordinadora Arauco-Malleco{{Cite web |url=https://observatorioterrorismochile.com/ |title=Copia archivada |access-date=29 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001031123/https://observatorioterrorismochile.com/ |archive-date=1 October 2018|language=es}}

{{flagicon image|Flag of the Mapuches (1992).svg}} Resistencia Mapuche Malleco{{cite news|author=Agrupación se adjudicó el jueves el fallido ataque a camión en la Ruta 5 Sur.|title=Fiscalía indaga múltiples delitos atribuidos al denominada grupo "Resistencia Mapuche Malleco".|access-date=13 January 2019|work=Economía y Negocios Online|date=10 September 2017|language=es|url=http://www.economiaynegocios.cl/noticias/noticias.asp?id=396508|archive-date=14 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114062101/http://www.economiaynegocios.cl/noticias/noticias.asp?id=396508|url-status=live}}

| opponents = Government of Chile:

}}

Weichán Auka Mapu (WAM) ({{langx|en|Rebel Territory Struggle}}) is a Mapuche armed and revolutionary organization that operates mainly in southern Chile, being a supporter of armed struggle through arson attacks, sabotage actions and clashes with firearms against police officers, in order to achieve full autonomy for the Mapuche people.{{cite web|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/2016/04/21/autodenominado-grupo-de-resistencia-mapuche-se-adjudica-multiples-ataques-en-el-sur.shtml|title=Autodenominado grupo de resistencia mapuche se adjudica multiples ataques en el sur|website=Biobiochile.cl|date=21 April 2016 |language=es|access-date=2021-01-24|archive-date=2021-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806045258/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/2016/04/21/autodenominado-grupo-de-resistencia-mapuche-se-adjudica-multiples-ataques-en-el-sur.shtml|url-status=live}}

The WAM was founded in 2011, as a splinter group from the Coordinadora Arauco Malleco.{{cite web|url=http://www.soychile.cl/Temuco/Policial/2017/09/03/485258/|title=Conoce la historia de Weichan Auka Mapu: los descolgados radicales de la CAM|website=Soychile.cl|date=3 September 2017 |language=es|access-date=2021-01-24|archive-date=2022-09-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905115621/https://www.soychile.cl/Temuco/Policial/2017/09/03/485258/|url-status=live}} It committed its first action on December 17, 2013, with an arson attack on a management house in Vilcún.{{cite web|url=https://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/pueblos-originarios/mapuche/grupo-mapuche-se-adjudico-38-atentados-en-biobio-la-araucania-y-los/2016-04-25/071744.html|title=Grupo mapuche se adjudico 38 atentados en Bio Bio, La Araucania y Los Rios|website=Cooperativa.cl|access-date=2021-01-24|archive-date=2018-08-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803104200/https://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/pueblos-originarios/mapuche/grupo-mapuche-se-adjudico-38-atentados-en-biobio-la-araucania-y-los/2016-04-25/071744.html|url-status=live}}

In May 2022, the Chamber of Deputies of Chile declared the Coordinadora Arauco-Malleco, Resistencia Mapuche Malleco, Resistencia Mapuche Lafkenche, and Weichán Auka Mapu as "illegal terrorist organizations."{{cite web |url=https://www.camara.cl/verDoc.aspx?prmId=7159&prmTipo=RESOLUCION |title=Proyecto de Resolución N° 128 |language=es}}{{cite web |url=https://cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/regiones/zona-sur/camara-baja-declaro-a-la-cam-y-otros-tres-grupos-radicales-como/2022-05-31/213626.html |title=Cámara de Diputados declara a la CAM y otras tres organizaciones radicales como “asociaciones ilícitas de carácter terrorista” |publisher=Cooperativa |date=May 31, 2022 |access-date=June 20, 2023 |language=es}}{{cite web |url=https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/camara-de-diputados-declara-a-la-cam-y-otras-tres-organizaciones-radicales-como-asociaciones-ilicitas-de-caracter-terrorista/RZYPRDJ6QJEORBWNIYHQMZDI6E/ |title=Cámara Baja declaró a la CAM y otros tres grupos radicales como asociaciones terroristas |access-date=June 3, 2022 |last=S |first=Rodrigo Gómez |date=June 1, 2022 |website=La Tercera |language=es}}

As of December 2024 Weichán Auka Mapu rejects drug trafficking but admits that it had been the practice of some of its members in the past.{{Cite news |title="Nuestra lucha continuará": WAM reconoce que miembros participaron en asesinatos y tráfico de droga |last=Díaz Montero |first=Felipe |url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/chile/2024/12/09/nuestra-lucha-continuara-wam-reconoce-que-miembros-participaron-en-asesinatos-y-trafico-de-droga.shtml |work=Radio Bío-Bío |last2=Roa |first2=Daniel}}

History

=Origins=

In 2010, a dissident faction formed inside the Coordinadora Arauco Malleco (CAM). They disagreed with the possibility of engaging in dialogue between Mapuche representatives and the Chilean Government, since they considered that negotiations would interfere with the project of Mapuche National Liberation. Following the course taken by the CAM, the dissatisfied former militants chose to found their own organization in order to continue their violent actions.{{Cite news|title=El Austral de la Araucanía|page=4|date=3 September 2017|url=http://www.australtemuco.cl/impresa/2017/09/03/full/cuerpo-reportajes/4/|access-date=29 October 2018|website=australtemuco.cl|language=es|archive-date=29 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029071630/http://www.australtemuco.cl/impresa/2017/09/03/full/cuerpo-reportajes/4/|url-status=live}}

In their first statement released on April 20, 2016 where they explain the reason for their "armed resistance" and the meaning of their coat of arms. The cultrun represents "the totality of our Wallmapu and the 4 parts of the spiritual basis of existence as a People-Nation". The spear symbolizes their ancestral resistance and the shotgun symbolizes their present resistance, calling it "rudimentary but worthy." In addition to the way in which the spear and shotgun were placed, the statement "states that said weapons are not invasive, but are an integral part of our Mapuche Nation People."{{cite web|url=http://www.cedema.org/ver.php?id=7507|title=Declaración Publica Weichan Auka Mapu, Lucha del territorio Rebelde|date=20 April 2016|access-date=24 January 2021|publisher=Reivindicación de acciones de sabotaje|author=Weichan Auka Mapu|archive-date=6 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210806030825/http://www.cedema.org/ver.php?id=7507|url-status=live}}

=Arson attacks=

;2013

On January 4, 2013 Werner Luchsinger and Vivianne Mackay, a couple of wealthy farmers, were murdered in an arson fire in their country house located in Vilcún, in 2013. In September 2017, the prosecutor of La Araucanía, Roberto Garrido, confirmed that there was a connection between members of the Weichán Auka Mapu and the Luchsinger-Mackay case. This was due to ongoing investigations showing the involvement of at least 25 individuals in the attack. The prosecutor confirmed that the investigations were still ongoing.{{cite web|url=https://www.t13.cl/noticia/nacional/roberto-garrido-fiscal-araucania-es-necesario-determinar-vinculo-acusados-del|title=Fiscalía asegura que hay vínculos entre la muerte de los Luchsinger y el grupo Weichan Auka Mapu|work=T13|accessdate=2024-02-01}}{{cite web|url=https://www.emol.com/noticias/Nacional/2017/09/03/873770/Fiscal-de-la-Araucania-asegura-que-el-crimen-del-matrimonio-LuchsingerMackay-esta-definitivamente-unido-con-el-grupo-violentista-WAM.html|title=Fiscalía asegura que "existe evidencia" del vinculo entre el caso Luchsinger-Mackay y grupo WAM|work=Emol.tv|accessdate=2024-02-01}}

;2017

On June 17, 2017, a truck with a hopper and several machines were destroyed in Puerto Saavedra, in a new arson attack in the area that affected the construction company CIAL Ltd. Carabineros said that five people participated in the event, and that they had attacked two guards.{{cite web|url=https://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/region-de-la-araucania/la-araucania-sujetos-quemaron-maquinaria-en-puerto-saavedra/2017-06-17/122108.html|title=La Araucania: Sujetos quemaron cinco vehículos en Puerto Saavedra|work=Cooperativa.cl|access-date=26 April 2019|language=es|archive-date=2019-04-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426222526/https://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/region-de-la-araucania/la-araucania-sujetos-quemaron-maquinaria-en-puerto-saavedra/2017-06-17/122108.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-de-la-araucania/2017/06/16/confirman-nuevo-ataque-incendiario-en-la-region-de-la-araucania.shtml|title="Weichan Auka Mapu" se adjudica nuevo ataque incendiario que afectó a La Araucanía|work=BioBio Chile|date=16 June 2017 |access-date=26 April 2019|language=es|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426222529/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-de-la-araucania/2017/06/16/confirman-nuevo-ataque-incendiario-en-la-region-de-la-araucania.shtml|url-status=live}}

On July 26 of the same year, Chilean authorities said that an evangelical church was set on fire in a southern region that the Mapuche indigenous group claim as their ancestral territory.{{Cite web |date=26 July 2017 |title=Church burned to ground in Mapuche conflict zone in Chile |url=https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/church-burned-to-ground-in-mapuche-conflict-zone-in-chile |access-date=26 April 2019 |website=National Post |publisher=Associated Press |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.24horas.cl/nacional/ataque-a-iglesia-evangelica-de-vilcun-es-adjudicado-por-weichan-auka-mapu-2458654|title=Ataque a iglesia evangélica de Vilcún es adjudicado por Weichan Auka Mapu|access-date=26 April 2019|last=TVN|first=24Horas cl|date=26 July 2017|website=24Horas.cl|language=es|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426223319/https://www.24horas.cl/nacional/ataque-a-iglesia-evangelica-de-vilcun-es-adjudicado-por-weichan-auka-mapu-2458654|url-status=live}}

On August 19, an arson attack affected 18 trucks belonging to the Calafquén transportation company, located at kilometer 686 of Route 5 south of Temuco. A brochure was found on the site that attributed the incident to the Mapuche group.{{Cite web|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-de-la-araucania/2017/08/19/presunto-ataque-incendiario-afecta-a-18-camiones-en-la-araucania.shtml|title=Queman 18 camiones en nuevo ataque incendiario en La Araucanía|access-date=26 April 2019|date=19 August 2017|website=BioBioChile – La Red de Prensa Más Grande de Chile|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426223317/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-de-la-araucania/2017/08/19/presunto-ataque-incendiario-afecta-a-18-camiones-en-la-araucania.shtml|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.elmostrador.cl/s/tIEYI|title=La Araucanía: desconocidos queman 18 camiones de la empresa Luchetti|access-date=26 April 2019|last=Mostrador|first=El|date=19 August 2017|website=El Mostrador|language=es}}

On August 26, at least 29 trucks were burned in San José de la Mariquina. In place, they left a brochure where the Weichan Auka Mapu group took responsibility for the attack.{{Cite web|url=http://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-de-los-rios/2017/08/28/fiscalia-confirma-presencia-de-panfleto-en-lugar-del-atentado-de-los-rios.shtml|title=Encuentran panfleto de Weichan Auka Mapu en atentado de Los Ríos|access-date=26 April 2019|date=28 August 2017|website=BioBioChile – La Red de Prensa Más Grande de Chile|language=es|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426223343/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-de-los-rios/2017/08/28/fiscalia-confirma-presencia-de-panfleto-en-lugar-del-atentado-de-los-rios.shtml|url-status=live}} On August 10, 2018, a group of Mapuche militants burned an evangelical church in the municipality of Budimallín. At the site of the attack, canvases related to the Mapuche cause were found.{{cite web|url=http://lanacion.cl/2018/07/10/queman-iglesia-evangelica-en-padre-las-casas/|title=Queman iglesia evangélica en Padre Las Casas|work=La Nación.cl|access-date=26 April 2019|language=es|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426223831/http://lanacion.cl/2018/07/10/queman-iglesia-evangelica-en-padre-las-casas/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-de-la-araucania/2018/07/10/incendio-afecta-a-iglesia-en-sector-rural-de-la-araucania-se-presume-intencionalidad.shtml|title=Incendio destruyó iglesia en sector rural de La Araucanía: se presume intencionalidad|work=Bio Bio Chile|date=10 July 2018 |access-date=26 April 2019|language=es|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426223810/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-de-la-araucania/2018/07/10/incendio-afecta-a-iglesia-en-sector-rural-de-la-araucania-se-presume-intencionalidad.shtml|url-status=live}}

;2018

On August 11, 2018, six WAM militants were indicted for their participation in an attack on a farm in Cuyinpahué, owned by Forestal Arauco.{{Cite news|title=Seis integrantes de Weichan Auka Mapu fueron declarados culpables en juicio oral|url=https://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/policial/atentados/seis-integrantes-de-weichan-auka-mapu-fueron-declarados-culpables-en/2017-08-11/163648.html|access-date=29 October 2018|publisher=Cooperativa.cl|language=es|archive-date=2018-10-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029112319/https://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/policial/atentados/seis-integrantes-de-weichan-auka-mapu-fueron-declarados-culpables-en/2017-08-11/163648.html|url-status=live}}

;2019

On September 12, 2019, members of the WAM set fire to two sheds in the Santa Adela farm, located in the Nueva Imperial district, leaving behind leaflets belonging to the group. Later the government confirmed a complaint for a terrorist arson after the attack was reported.{{cite web|url=https://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/region-de-la-araucania/dos-galpones-fueron-quemados-en-las-cercanias-de-temuco/2019-09-12/115842.html|title=Dos galpones fueron quemados en las cercanías de Temuco|work=Cooperativ.cl|access-date=3 November 2019|language=es|archive-date=2019-11-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103181804/https://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/region-de-la-araucania/dos-galpones-fueron-quemados-en-las-cercanias-de-temuco/2019-09-12/115842.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-de-la-araucania/2019/09/12/incendio-afecta-a-dos-galpones-en-fundo-de-la-araucania-reportan-presencia-de-panfletos.shtml|title=Incendio destruye dos galpones en fundo de La Araucanía: reportan panfletos de Weichan Auka Mapu|work=Biobio Chile.cl|date=12 September 2019 |access-date=3 November 2019|language=es|archive-date=3 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103183308/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-de-la-araucania/2019/09/12/incendio-afecta-a-dos-galpones-en-fundo-de-la-araucania-reportan-presencia-de-panfletos.shtml|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-de-la-araucania/2019/09/12/gobierno-confirma-querella-por-incendio-terrorista-tras-nuevo-ataque-a-fundo-en-la-araucania.shtml|title=Gobierno confirma querella por incendio terrorista tras nuevo ataque a fundo en La Araucanía|work=Biobio Chile.cl|date=12 September 2019 |access-date=3 November 2019|language=es|archive-date=3 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191103183304/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-de-la-araucania/2019/09/12/gobierno-confirma-querella-por-incendio-terrorista-tras-nuevo-ataque-a-fundo-en-la-araucania.shtml|url-status=live}}

;2020

A fire caused to the San Fidel major seminary was reported in Padre Las Casas, with no casualties reported in the attack. The attack occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m., partially destroying the facilities and leaving a canvas.{{cite web|url=https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/la-araucania-desconocidos-queman-edificios-del-seminario-mayor-san-fidel-padre-las-casas/938088/|title=La Araucanía: Desconocidos queman edificios del Seminario Mayor San Fidel de Padre Las Casas|work=La Tercera|date=13 December 2019 |access-date=23 February 2020|language=es|archive-date=24 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224044644/https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/la-araucania-desconocidos-queman-edificios-del-seminario-mayor-san-fidel-padre-las-casas/938088/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.meganoticias.cl/nacional/285014-ataque-edificio-seminario-mayor-padre-las-casas-la-araucania.html|title=Sujetos incendian edificio del seminario mayor San Fidel de Padre Las Casas|work=Meganoticias|date=13 December 2019 |access-date=23 February 2020|language=es|archive-date=24 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224030852/https://www.meganoticias.cl/nacional/285014-ataque-edificio-seminario-mayor-padre-las-casas-la-araucania.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/incendian-exseminario-en-el-sur-de-chile-97969|title=Incendian exseminario en el sur de Chile|work=Aci Prensa|access-date=23 February 2020|language=es|archive-date=24 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224030851/https://www.aciprensa.com/noticias/incendian-exseminario-en-el-sur-de-chile-97969|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/2016/05/27/incendio-consume-seminario-mayor-san-fidel-de-padre-las-casas.shtml|title=Incendio consumió al menos dos pisos de seminario mayor San Fidel de Padre Las Casas|work=Bio Bío Chile|date=27 May 2016 |access-date=23 February 2020|language=es|archive-date=24 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224030849/https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/2016/05/27/incendio-consume-seminario-mayor-san-fidel-de-padre-las-casas.shtml|url-status=live}}