Chilean Army Invades Rapa Nui-Terrorises Islanders

[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:
Radio New Zealand International - Shortwave Broadcaster to the South Pacific

 

[Ron in Regina]

I wonder why? Isn't Rapa Nui a tiny Island with no real natural recourses of any value,
and happens to be located about as far away from pretty much anyone or anything
else that (beyond a small tourism industry) might make occupying it commercially
or economically or militaristically advantageous enough to bother with?

 

[damngrumpy]

Chile, is no longer a jackboot army and has not been for some time. Has
anyone noticed the left wing took power from the far right regime some time
ago. It was only a few months ago that Chile held an election for President.
That election has produced a conservative President and a middle of the
road social democratic house. Calling them a jackboot army no longer
applies.

 

[bill barilko]

I wonder why? Isn't Rapa Nui a tiny Island with no real natural recourses of any value, and happens to be located about as far away from pretty much anyone or anything else that (beyond a small tourism industry) might make occupying it commercially or economically or militaristically advantageous enough to bother with?

Because they can-because they need someone to beat on to make themselves feel like a Real Country.

In colonial times Rapa Niu was a colony of a colony and Chile still wants a colony to call their own.

Chile, is no longer a jackboot army and has not been for some time.Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah..... Calling them a jackboot army no longer
applies.

Tell that to the Mapuche.

Note that the late leftist govt in Chile started off by saying they'd treat indigenous better-it never happened.