March 9, 1999

The Chilean government decided not to deport two foreign environmental activists who were accused of meddling in Chilean environmental affairs.

Spanish activist Patricia Ballestero, 21, and the North American ecologist, Lee Pope, 36, were taken to the Supreme Court to argue their right to stay.

Map of Chile.  Image Credit: CIA.

The two activists were said to have joined a protest staged by Mapuche Indians.  The protestors opposed the construction of a hydroelectric dam on the Bio-Bio River.

Indigenous rights and the protection of the native environment were seen as two of the real issues in the decision.  Companies that are trying to cut down trees have run into trouble recently.

The Mapuche Indians say that they planted the trees now being cut down back when they had title to the land.  As a result, they have taken over several forested areas, preventing loggers from cutting down the trees.

Mininco, the timber company, said that it would prematurely chop down pine trees to avoid further difficulties with the Mapuches.

The Mapuche chiefs demanded that the pine trees not be harvested early, that they receive title to land taken from them by former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, and that security guards working for the lumber companies be removed.