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03/10/2006:

"Indigenous Want Autonomy in Chile"

The Mapuche, Chile's largest indigenous population, is forming a political party in an effort gain autonomy and self-government.

The Wallmapuwen (party) hopes to be legally recognized later this year so that it has the time to organize and prepare to field candidates in the 2008 municipal elections.

The group plans to "restore the Mapuche nation as a political and administrative entity, under a statute of territorial autonomy that enshrines the rights of its native people, and establishes Mapuzugun as an official language."
upsidedownworld.org