Easter Island land dispute clashes (with Chilean security forces) leave dozens injured

[Turborama]

Source: BBC

At least 25 people have been injured during clashes between Chilean police and local people on Easter Island. Witnesses say police fired pellets as they tried to evict several indigenous inhabitants from buildings they occupied earlier this year.

The Rapa Nui group say the buildings were illegally taken from their ancestors several generations ago. Easter Island, which was annexed by Chile in 1888, is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Chilean security forces began their operation in the early hours of the morning, says reports.

=snip=

'Shooting to kill'

Maka Atan, a Rapa Nui lawyer, told the Associated Press police had been "shooting to kill". He said he was shot in the back by pellets. "It seems like this is going to end with them killing the Rapa Nui," he said.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11917511

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[NBachers]

1. Here's a link to the Save Rapa Nui website:

Lots of interesting stuff

http://saverapanui.org/

[Turborama]

2. Thanks a lot!

That is a really interesting site. Easter Island has a fascinating history and I didn't know about these recent problems until seeing that article.

[sce56]

3. That is one of he Islands on my list to sail to! I hope they, the Rapa Nui, regain thier land!

[Xithras]

4. The problems aren't recent.

When the Chileans took it over in the 1800's, they leased the island out and herded all of the Rapanui into a single small encampment surrounded by a fence. If the people leasing the island needed labor, they would take the men without compensation and put them to work. If they ran, they'd be shot. If they tried to leave the encampment, they'd be shot. Even children.

Chile offered the Rapanui a few acres each a number of years ago, but the Rapanui refused. Chile has now started to settle mainlanders on the island to change the demographics and undermine any attempt at independence. The Rapanui aren't stupid and know that if they don't revolt now, they'll never get their island back.

Chile's claim on the island is bunk anyway, and was based on a total fraud. The treaty where the Rapanui "ceded" the island was written in two languages. In the language translated for the chief, the treaty read "We Rapanui pledge our friendship to the government of Chile", or something like that. In Spanish, which he couldn't read or have translated, the treaty read "We Rapanui surrender to the government of Chile, give control of our island to Chile, and agree to become subjects of the Chilean government."

It was one of the most egregious treaty frauds in history. Ironically, Chile STILL drags that original treaty out whenever their control of the island is challenged.

[Judi Lynn]

5. Thank you for posting the information. Didn't know about it. Very kind of you. n/t

[aquart]

6. What on earth does Chile want it for?

[Xithras]

13. Back then? Cash flow and a naval base. Nowadays? Fishing and seafloor rights.

The same reason Argentina wants the Falklands, or why Russia controls the Franz Josef's. The islands themselves have no real value to the controlling country, but their ownership gives them exclusive control of vast stretches of surrounding ocean and seafloor.

[sce56]

7. CENSORED WEB SITE!

Website Updating...

Sorry this page is being worked on for the moment. Please check back later or contact us if you have any questions about this page.

Thank you for your patience,

DWHS Inc.




So much for freedom of speech on the Internets!

[Turborama]

14. It's working fine for me.

Maybe try again?

[guruoo]

15. Google cache....

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&biw=1600&bih=725&q=http://saverapanui.org/+site:saverapanui.org+&sa=X&ei=czX8TIT9MIG4sAOx2M33DQ&ved=0CAIQqAQwBQ&fp=d1130564c93b4a66

[krabigirl]

8. good for the people of this island, it should be theirs.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Judi Lynn]

10. SWAT team sent as Easter Islanders take land

SWAT team sent as Easter Islanders take land
'All we're asking for is title to the land,' says native after police fired on dozens
By FEDERICO QUILODRAN
The Associated Press
updated 12/4/2010 6:30:43 PM ET 2010-12-04T23:30:43

SANTIAGO, Chile — A military plane carrying riot police reinforcements landed on Easter Island Saturday, and Chile's Interior Minister said they will continue evicting Rapa Nui islanders who have been squatting in government buildings built on their ancestral properties.

Dozens of people were wounded by police buckshot and batons after violently resisting the first such eviction on Friday on the usually tranquil South Pacific island, where as many as 50,000 tourists come each year to see the Moai — huge stone heads carved by the Rapa Nui's ancestors.

Documentary filmmaker Santi Hitorangi, who dug 14 pellets from his backside after police shot him while he videotaped the clash, said the atmosphere remained tense on Saturday, with families squatting in a dozen other properties refusing to back down despite the police pressure.

"The arrival of the C-130 cargo plane with more police and armed SWAT teams adds to the psychological duress that's happening here," Hitorangi told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "What happened yesterday is their way of trying to stop any attempt of the Rapa Nui people to reassert their right to the land. All we're asking for is title to the land. It's a rightful claim. We are not asking the government for anything else."

More:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40510133/ns/world_news-americas/
(graphic images at link.)

[clixtox]

11. In 1987 I was fortunate enough to visit Rapa Nui for 3 days.

Rapa Nui is an amazing place to see and experience, there is nowhere else remotely similar, it's unique.

I just went to the site and made a contribution, it's the least I could do in solidarity with the indigenous peoples legitimate aspirations for ending their, now brutal, colonization. Please lend your support at -http://saverapanui.org/home.html-

[boppers]

12. "The requested URL /home.html- was not found on this server."

You might want to remove the trailing hyphen.