RAPA NUI NEWS
Volume 1 Number 2
May 20, 1996
- On March 22, 1996, UNESCO officially declared Easter Island as a "Patriminio Cultural de la Humanidad", a condition that establishes an obligation to the Chilean government to watch over the island's preservation and protection.
The director-general of UNESCO, Frederico Mayor, delivered to Chilean President Frei the certificate incorporating Easter Island into a
grand list of 450 places and monuments that enjoy this status, including The National Park of Iguazú, the Columbian city of Cartagenas de Indias, Grand Canyon National Park, the Statue of Liberty, and the Galapagos Islands.
The decision of UNESCO, adopted after a long process in December last year, converts Easter Island into the first Chilean
possession with this ostentatious title. With it, a series of plans for protection was initiated, such as the investigation
and development of cultural tourism. With the presentation of the certificate, Easter Island passes to the responsibility
of 148 countries that have signed the corresponding convention. The mayor of Rapa Nui, Petero Edmunds, has stated his
opposition to this designation because it would restrict progress by prohibiting construction or works that modify the present
environment.
Currently UNESCO is studying the possibility of also naming Juan Fernández Islands as a patrimony of humanity because
of their exotic natural wonders. And the National Park of Torres de Paine might be added to the list, but the government still has not proposed
the latter.
The UNESCO representative stated his satisfaction in personally delivering the certificate making Rapa Nui an official "Cultural Patrimony
of Humanity", a sign of prestige for Chile. He is quoted as stating, " Isla de Pascua is one of the phenomena of most impressive creativity
in the cultural history of humanity." Mayor also noted that the Chilean government and the congress will be able to enforce, by maintaining and conserving with the collaboration of UNESCO, the exceptional and natural characteristics of Easter Island. He added that "in case of alterations
produced over such characteristics by natural or provoked catastrophes, not only the Chilean government but all the signers of the convention
(which at this moment includes 145 countries), would concur immediately with support of the labor for rehabilitation and restoration."
-El Mercurio de Valparaiso: 22 March 1996
- El Mercurio de Valparaiso for March 16th stated that the usual four weekly flights to Easter Island had been suspended while the
final section of the runway was being repaired, but an Air Force Hercules C-130 stood by in case of the need for medical evacuation The article
pointed out that the runway upgrade (an investment of US $11.5 million) is the largest made on the island by the government. The original
asphalt paved runway dated from 1966 and was in very poor condition. Upgrades were also made to the control tower, the terminal building, the drainage system, and the official buildings.
- The former squadron of Chilean Marines on Rapa Nui was relieved by a new unit. The Armada freighter Rancagua with 15
Chilean Marines was sent off by the Commander-in-Chief of the First Naval Zone, Hernán Couyoumdjian Bergamali. The Marines will stay for seven months on the island, under the command of petty officer, José Acuña. To better carry out their assignment, the selected
Marines took a 9-day course at the Institute Carlos Condell. This course, called "Familiarization Pascuense" pointed out various aspects "relative to the way of life on the island." According to El Mercurio, the Marines will spend part of their time working on the island school, library, and cultural center. Another of their missions is to avert a fire threat that menaces a munition storage area.
The Rancagua also carried 21 civilians plus a school teacher and three dental students of the School of Odontology of the University of Valparaiso. The dental students plan to "develop attention to their specialty." The ship carried livestock, construction material, combustibles and other commodities solicited by the municipality, including a set of school texts for the island school, "Lorenzo Baeza".
- Island authorities visited Japan in April. Making use of his legal vacation, Governor Jacobo Hey Paoa, together with Mayor Petero Edmunds Paoa and archaeologist Claudio Cristino Ferrando, traveled to Japan to be present at the inauguration of a replica of Ahu Akivi. The ceremony took place April 13 in the city of Nichinan, Miyazaki.
- A replica of an Hawaiian canoe headed for Rapa Nui was delivered to Valparaiso. It was a gift of nearly 150 individuals and corporate
organizations from California, Hawaii and around the world, and was
brought to Chile without cost by the South American Steamship Company (CSAV). It will be taken to Rapa Nui by the Chilean Navy.
The fiberglass canoe is 12 meters long and will be presented to the Canoe Club of Rapa Nui in order to revive the custom of Polynesian
navigating. Once the canoe arrives to the island, it will be delivered to the Corporation for Cultural Preservation
"Hotu-Matu'a Kahu-Kahu-O-Hera," Rodrigo Paoa, Director. -El Mercurio de Valparaiso, 12 April
- The dates are set for the 1997 Tapati Rapa Nui: January 31 to February 8th. If you plan to attend, don't wait until the last minute to try to get a
flight and/or a reservation on the island.
- Rapa Nui Journal Vol. 10 (2) June 1996
 Previous Issues:
-Rapa Nui News Volume 1
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