- Title: CHILE: HUNGER STRIKE BY MEMBERS OF GERMAN AGRICULTURAL COLONY
- Date: 6th May 1968
- Summary: PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS; STRIKERS IN GROUPS; WOMEN CRYING; STRIKERS LED AWAY. Initials GS/VS/JF/ES Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 21st May 1968 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SANTIAGO, CHILE
- Country: Chile
- Reuters ID: LVA63DD67CM5IF5QHI62AZPI0V52
- Story Text: MORE THAN 100 MEMBERS OF A GERMAN COLONY IN CHILE HAVE CALLED OFF A HUNGER STRIKE. THE MOVE CAME AFTER A GOVERNMENT DECISION NOT TO IMPOUND AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN SMUGGLED INTO THE COUNTRY.
THE GERMAN COLONY IS CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED BY A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE AFTER CHARGES OF VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS. THE COLONY IS LED BY FORMER LUFTWAFFE COLONEL, HERMAN SCHMIDT, WHO HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SMUGGLING GBP100,000 - STERLING WORTH OF AGRICULTURAL EQUIPMENT INTO THE COUNTRY.
TWENTY OF THE HUNGER STRIKERS ARE NOW UNDER MEDICAL CARE AFTER DOCTORS FOUND THEM TO BE SUFFERING FROM ADVANCED MALNUTRITION. THE HUNGER STRIKE LASTED FOR FIVE DAYS, WITHIN THE LIMITS OF THE CHILEAN PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS.
THE COLONY WAS ESTABLISHED BY GERMAN IMMIGRANTS IN THE ANDES. THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE IS ALSO LOOKING INTO CHARGES THAT THE COLONY MAINTAINS AN UNAUTHORISED CEMETERY AND AN ILLEGAL HOSPITAL OPERATED BY UNLICENSED DOCTORS.
THE COLONY IS REPORTED TO BE SELF-SUFFICIENT, HAS ITS OWN LAWS AND ONLY GERMAN IS SPOKEN. FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS IT HAS DISCOURAGED ANY CONTACTS WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD FOR ITS 235 MEMBERS.
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