Chilean Army Invades Rapa Nui

[bill_barilko]

The Chilean Army is often spoken of as the last true jackbooted army-a notoriously brutal bunch of thugs-and of course the Chilean Govt is infamous for genocide against indigenous Mapuche

CHILE SENDS TROOPS TO TROUBLED RAPA NUI

Islanders continue to occupy traditional lands

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (RNZI, Oct. 4, 2010) - A Rapa Nui man based in New York says people occupying their ancestral lands on Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, are on high alert following the arrival of a new military team from Chile.

Santi Hitorangi says about 70 of his family members are still occupying the Hanga Roa Hotel which they claim is on land taken from them illegally.

Mr. Hitorangi says a military plane arrived from Chile last week carrying troops to augment Chile’s existing military presence on the island but he’s hopeful proceedings underway through the Inter-American Court of Human Rights will help protect locals.

"There are children involved in all of this so they are very mindful the children are involved and will ask the state of Chile to adhere to international rules as to how to treat indigenous people."

Reports from Chile say a committee of regional and central government officials has been formed to address islanders concerns.

[PIR editor’s note: According to Hitorangi, indigenous Rapa Nui islanders have been occupying traditional lands since July 31 in a demonstration against "colonial" occupation by the Chile government. He said the Hanga Roa property was illegally sold during the Pinochet regime to a non-Rapanui person, and was subsequently transferred to a non-Rapanui corporation, in violation of Chilean law. Hitorangi also said, "Chile has refused to conduct serious and meaningful peaceful negotiations…." ]

Radio New Zealand International:

http://www.rnzi.com/