Julia Chuñil

Julia del Carmen Chuñil Catricura (Máfil, July 16, 1952) is a Chilean environmental activist of Mapuche ethnicity who currently presides over the Putreguel Indigenous Community. She is recognized for her work in defending native forests and protecting ancestral Mapuche lands in the commune of Máfil, in the Chilean region of Los Ríos.^[1]

On November 8, 2024, Chuñil disappeared in the commune of Máfil under circumstances yet to be clarified. On that day, the leader went to the territory "Reserva Cora Número Uno-A" with her sheepdog in search of some lost animals. She has not been seen since.^[1]

One of her sons explained that, while searching for his mother, he found tire marks from a pickup truck, an "unusual" vehicle in the region, which raised suspicions. The indigenous woman's house is a simple cabin, without electricity, running water, or cell phone signal, in an isolated area of the Valdivian temperate rainforest in southern Chile.^[1][2][3][4] The case has had repercussions both inside and outside Chile. In an interview with the British newspaper The Guardian, her son stated "She knew that land like the back of her hand. [...] It's impossible that she would have gotten lost or fallen."^[5]

Julia Chuñil was born in 1952 in the rural area of Huichaco, in the commune of Máfil.^[6] During her youth, she lived for a period in the urban area, but later chose to return to the countryside.^[7] She is a mother of 5 children and grandmother of 10 grandchildren.^[8]

In 2018, she fought for the protection of 900 hectares of native forest in the commune where she resided, Máfil.^[1]

At the time of her disappearance, she was serving as president of her indigenous community, Putreguel.^[1]

Throughout her life, she dedicated herself to the conservation of native forests and the defense of her people's territorial rights. In 2014, the Putreguel Indigenous Community was officially recognized by the National Indigenous Development Corporation (CONADI), an agency linked to the Ministry of Social Development and Family of Chile, responsible for the management and guarantee of the rights of indigenous peoples in the country. Soon after, Chuñil assumed the position of president and legal representative of the 17 families that make up the community.^[9]

In 2015, under Chuñil's leadership, the community expanded its territory by occupying a plot of land known as "Reserva Cora Número Uno-A", ancestral lands that had previously been offered to another indigenous community.^[10] The decision to occupy the property arose in reaction to a long conflict with businessman Juan Carlos Morstadt Anwandter, who intended to use the land for native forest devastation and timber commercialization, as well as irregularities in the land transfer process by CONADI. Although CONADI had already recognized the area as ancestral Mapuche territory, the official transfer was prevented, which led the community, led by Julia Chuñil, to take possession of the land.

Since then, Chuñil has dedicated herself to conserving local biodiversity and raising livestock on a small scale for her and her community's subsistence. However, her defense of the territory has not been without risks: for years, she faced constant threats and harassment, which intensified in the days leading up to her disappearance.^[1]

Since 2018, she had repeatedly denounced the situation and expressed her concern for her safety and that of her community;^[7] after the restitution of the land in question to a company, she began receiving threats and persecution from people linked to the institution.^[11]

Among the most serious cases of harassment, it is mentioned that a bridge Chuñil used was destroyed on different occasions, even after being repaired. According to her, such destructive actions were carried out by José Luis Painean Coronado, who would have been paid by Juan Carlos Morstadt Anwandter, owner of the company that was trying to exploit the native Mapuche land. Furthermore, she also reported that Morstadt directly offered her money to leave the place, saying that he had already bought all the other spaces and that "Julia, [...] only you are missing" [sic].^[11]

On November 8, 2024, Chuñil was last seen leaving her home, accompanied by her dog "Cholito", to look for lost animals in the disputed territory.^[10] Since then, there has been no information about her whereabouts.^[11]

On November 10, a stick and a cushion were found in a "mediagua" (a small temporary shelter). The next day, the family filed a report for possible disappearance. Local residents stated that there were indications that the activist had been forcibly taken, including pickup truck tire marks, an unusual vehicle in that location.^[11] However, the strongest evidence was lost due to rain. Search operations were carried out in the following weeks.^[7]

On December 8, the activist's family, along with the NGO Escazú Ahora, formalized a criminal complaint against all possible responsible parties for the disappearance, even without knowing exactly who is behind the facts. This measure aims to ensure that authorities initiate a broad investigation to identify and hold the culprits accountable once they are found.^[8]

On February 14, Pablo San Martín, Julia Chuñil's son, declared that searches in the region had already been suspended and that the focus of the investigation had shifted to the activist's sister, Jeanette, who, according to statements from her partner and the disappeared woman's brother-in-law, came to be considered one of the suspects.^[12]

Julia Chuñil's disappearance has generated repercussions inside and outside Chile.^[13] Indigenous, feminist, environmental, and human rights organizations have demanded that the Chilean State intensify efforts to find the activist. President Gabriel Boric, of Chile, expressed his concern about the case and affirmed that the search must continue intensely.^[14]

The NGO Corporation for the Promotion and Defense of the People's Rights (CODEPU) expressed concern about Julia Chuñil's disappearance, emphasizing that the case highlights the risks faced by female political activists in Chile. The entity appealed to the State to conduct investigations diligently and use all available resources, recalling its obligation under international law.^[15]

The National Institute of Human Rights is carrying out various actions in the context of Julia Chuñil's disappearance. It requested information from the Public Prosecutor's Office about the investigation and seeks to verify whether the Guide for Investigative Diligence on Forced Disappearance, prepared by the National Prosecutor's Office of Chile in August 2024, is being applied.^[16]

On January 8, a demonstration was held in front of the La Moneda Palace, demanding an urgent investigation into Julia Chuñil's disappearance.^[17]

On February 26, 2025, at the LXIV Viña del Mar International Song Festival, guitarist Claudio Narea, former member of the Chilean band Los Prisioneros, wore a T-shirt with Julia Chuñil's face at the opening of the event, fueling public debate and increasing international visibility for the case.^[18]

On March 8, International Women's Day, Julia Chuñil's disappearance was remembered by Chilean activists during the feminist general strike, who adopted the motto: "Where is Julia Chuñil?".^[19]

• Nicolasa Quintremán, Chilean indigenous leader and environmental activist who opposed the construction of the Ralco dam in Chile. In December 2013, after disappearing, her body was found in the dam's reservoir which she had protested against. Her death was registered as accidental drowning, although it raised doubts and suspicions among her supporters.
• Macarena Valdés, Chilean indigenous and environmental activist murdered in 2016.
• Alejandro Castro, Chilean environmental activist who died under strange circumstances in 2018.

• Cau Cau Films (June 18, 2024). "Documental Máfil ñi pu tukulpazugun". YouTube. Retrieved February 3, 2025.