PACIFIC SUPERHEROES

Supporting what needs to be told, shown and shared to SAVE RAPANUI

Here’s a snippet from their website in the fight for Chile to return the lands of Rapanui. Sign the PETITION and you can also view the story shot by Annabelle Lee-Harris of Maori Television for Native Affairs, Rapanui story @ 20.18″. PACIFIC SUPERHERO up and support whats good in our hood n get active! Mauri Ora!

‘Update from Rapanui 12/5/2010

Today, Sunday December 5, 2010 tensions are running on Rapanui. Chilean special forces are hunting for individuals who have been involved with the reoccupation and those they are targeting who have helped share the story with the international press.

The word out that tonight by 5 AM there will be a massive violent eviction of all the properties. Everyone is in a state of panic. People on the island say “There is a void of justice and an absence of due process.”

Chilean President Pinera and Minister of the Interior Hinzpeter have presided over the heavy-handed actions by police. They are staunch rule of law advocates and members of the Pinochet party. By refusing to give title to the Rapanui of their lands, the administration is in violation of international law and in violation of Chilean law which requires that only Rapanui people can own land on the island.

Senator Carolina Tohá, President of the “Democracy Party (PPD)” declared that the repression on Rapanui was typical of the current government who sought always to enforce their opinions, rather than argue them.

Senator Juan Pablo Letelier, Socialist Party, visited Minister of the Interior Hinzpeter to declare that a government never should take measures against their own population. Senator Letelier is President of the Latin American Commission for Human Rights (ALDHU)”.

Communist Party Deputy (Congressman) Hugo Gutiérrez condemned the police actions on Rapanui, saying that he is going to urge his chamber to conclude an autonomy statute for the island with an eye to resolving the disputes. Such an autonomy statute has been formulated and debated in the Chilean Congress since 2008, but yet to be enacted.

On Friday morning Chilean troops violently dislodged from their home Margarita Pakarati Tuki, Verena Ika Tuki, Stella Ika Pakarati, Roberto Carlos Ika Pakarati (shot in his knee and rifle but in head), Miguel Tuki Atan, Richardo Hito, they remain under arrest.

When the Rapanui gathered to protest this action, Chilean Special Forces starting firing their guns and using tear gas. The Rapanui responded by throwing rocks.
21 Rapanui were shot and injured including Richardo Tepano, who lost his right eye and was flown to Santiago for medical care. There are no official reports or details of any police being injured despite statements that have been made.’

For more information contact:

Susana Hito (845) 596-5403
saverapanui.org

‘Iorana PACIFIC SUPERHEROES its time for the festival search of the summer to save up and hit in our pacific lounge and playground. Rapa Nui Island should be on your list of must see and ‘I’m there!’ attitude, with their annual Tapati Rapa Nui / Easter Island Festival celebrated during the end of January and first weeks of February.

Its two weeks of arts & culture with singing, dancing and sporting competitions all in there to woohoo and chaaahoooo about lolz. Only caution is this is party time on the island, so not much else gets done by the locals as many parties are run along side the official festival right through the break of dawn. Info and a link follows. Manuia paka-paka!!!

2009 Tapati dates: January 30th – February 14th

‘The yearly Easter Island festival, Tapati Rapa Nui, began in 1975. Back then, it was a song and poetry festival organized to attract tourists. Today’s sophisticated productions feature native dance, chant, and song, and competitions such as horse racing, woodcarving, fishing, kai kai (string figures), traditional body decoration, a parade, and a queen contest. The festival has become so popular that it has now been extended into a two-week event.

Tapati occurs at the height of the Summer season, usually at the end of January and the first of February. The dance and song performances generally are held in the island’s gymnasium but many are also out of doors, in front of one or another of the great ahu platforms, such as at Tongariki or Tahai. Some of these are more like “dance-drama” performances Continue reading ‘Tapati Rapa Nui’