Volume 1 Number 12 January 31, 1998
ON EASTER ISLAND:ANOMALIES DENOUNCED IN EASTER ISLANDA denunciation that will lead to the investigation of various acts of harassment and illegal charges to movie makers, scientists and foreign investigators that work on Easter Island was presented by the City Council of Hanga Roa to the Court of Letters of that community. The objective is to obstruct a group composed of about 60 islanders who call themselves "Consejo de Ancianos No. 2" and denunciation followed a series of acts committed by members of that group in order to obtain personal benefits.The five island council members -- Alberto Hotus, Marcelo Pont, Enrique Pakarati, Claudio Cristino and Rodrigo Norambuena -- made the following statement to the court:
b) That the collection of any cultural tax, as the cited group demanded, is counter to what is stipulated in article 41 of Law 16.441 that exempts Easter Island from the territorial assessments. c) That the group in question transgressed Article 6, letter (c) of the Law of Internal Security of the State, which demands the quick intervention in the island of competent authorities. d) That if no action is taken with corresponding severity, it sets a dangerous precedent for the future of the island. f) that in light of the antecedents that revealed the illegal collection of $500,000 pesos ($1200 dollars) from the U.S. archaeologist Christopher Stevenson and of $800,000 pesos ($1900 dollars) from the French film maker Henry Herre, who was there making a movie. Both individuals had permission to work in Easter Island. Similarly, the Consejo Municipal of Easter Island notified the Consejo de Defensa of the State that they are taking part in the denunciation and will seek action from the Regional Controller. ETHNIC CONFLICTGovernor Hey stated that the situation has its origin in the deep divisions that exist within the community of Rapa Nui, although he recognized the anomalies involved in the collection of money from foreigners by members of the Consejo #2. (Two members of Consejo #2 were arrested for obstructing the entrance to Orongo, and charging tourists a park entrance fee--normally collected by CONAF. They claim to have been acting in the name of the Consejo #2, but others of that group are appalled.The situation has prompted a high level government investigation of illegal taxes exacted of tourists and archaeologists. Governor Hey added: There are documents which clearly reveal this action, but a subversive organization does not exist. What has happened is that the council members made the denunciation as the culmination of resentments. He stated that diverse tribal divisions on the island provoke conflicting sentiments among these groups, each of whom claim to be the true defenders of the islands interests. : PRELIMINARY MINISTER TO EASTER ISLANDThe minister of the Court of Appeals of Valparaiso, Julio Torres Allú, who has been designated preliminary minister to investigate presumed irregularities denounced by the local municipal council, will go to the island to investigat e the alleged illegal collection of taxes to moviemakers and foreign investigators working on historic places on the island.The minister began his task on the 26th... Alberto Hotus and the other councilors (Pont, Pakarati, Cristino Norambuena)..."Concejo No. 2 is a subversive group that for several years have occupied illegally the church grounds...signs, slogans with offensive lettering against the State of Chile... Article 41, Law 16.441... specifically mentions collection of 500 thousand pesos from Christopher Stevenson, archaeologist from the USA and 800 thousand from the French filmmaker Henry Herre, both of whom had permission to work on the island.
ALERT OVER THE "LATENT MENACE" OF TERRORISMThe subsecretary of the Interior, Belisario Velasco, expressed that always one should be alert to attempts of the possible resurgence of subversive actions because terrorism is a sickness that never ends.Likewise, the subsecretary referred to the summons by the Law of Interior Security of the State interposed against those responsible for the illegal collection of money on Easter Island. The summons was presented before the Court of Appeals of Valparaiso on the morning of the 24th. In that island territory, members of the Consejo de Ancianos Numero II were stopping people to collect "cultural tolls" at the entrance to the Parque Nacional de Rapa Nui, administered by CONAF, and other sites of archaeological interest. According to Velasco, to assume the representation of the Judicial, Legislative and Executive Power is an extremely absurd situation because the only form of giving an immediate solution is to apply the Law of the State because Easter Island is a Chilean territory.
PRELIMINARY MINISTER TO EASTER ISLANDThe Minister of the Court of Appeals of Valparaiso, Julio Torres Allú, designated preliminary minister to investigate the claimed irregularities denounced by the municipal council of Easter Island, traveled to the island in his role as judge of the first instance.He will look into the denunciation of illegal collections of taxes imposed on film makers and foreign investigators that work in historic places on Easter Island. Minister Allú began the investigations last 26th of Dec. ordering the realization of various diligences which now have been completed by the local judge of letters. In the denunciation made by the councilors is mentioned the illegal collection of 500 thousand pesos from the U.S. archaeologist Christopher Stevenson and of 800 thousand pesos from the French film maker Henry Herre, who had the pertinent permissions to work on the island.
CDE WILL NOT TAKE PART IN THE CASE REGARDING ANOMALIES ON EASTER ISLANDThe Council of Defense of Chile (CDE) will not take part in the requirement (summons) presented by the interior government after the denunciation formulated by the municipal council of Easter Island for presumed irregularities committed by the members of the so-called Consejo de Ancianos 2 (CdeA2) connected with the illegal collection of taxes from scientists and foreign investigators working in historic places on the island.The D.A. of Valparaiso, Enrique Vicente Molina, explained that it is not the responsibility of the CDE to intervene in matters related with the Law of Interior Security of Chile, a situation in which the defense should be assumed by lawyers of the interior government. As announced, next week, the minister of the Court of Appeals of Valparaiso, Julio Torres Allú, designated by the high tribunal as preliminary minister will be on the island to investigate the actions denounced by the Island councilors. Island governor Jacobo Hey stated that the denounced situation had its origin in the ethnic disputes that exist in the Rapa Nui community, and he recognized the existence of anomalies connected with the collection of money by members of the CdeA2 from the US archaeologist Christopher Stevenson and the French film maker Henry Herre who both arrived with permission to work on the island.
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