Volume 1 Number 4
August 29, 1996
ON EASTER ISLAND:
$12.2 Million for Works on Easter Island
AIRPORT AND ROAD DELIVERED
An expenditure of more than 5 billion pesos (US$12.2 million) that permitted the rehabilitation of the Mataveri Airport runway pavement and the completion of the first asphalted road on the island will be inaurgerated today (Aug 28) by the Ministers of Defense, Edmundo Perez Yoma, the Minister of Public Works, Ricardo Lagos together with the Commander in Chief of the Air Force, General Fernando Rojas Vender.The work was finished three months early since the contract with the Ministry of Public Works stipulated that the delivery date would be November 16. The rehabilitation of the surface of the international airport of Mataveri, 3,353 meters long and 45 meters wide, was carried out in three stages so that there was available some 1500 meters for the operation of the Boeing 727s of Lan Chile and the C-30 cargo planes of the Air Force.
The largest part of the investment was spent on the road from Hanga Roa to Anakena, some 4.881 million pesos (US$11.9 million). The work, executed by the Department of Roads, extends a total of 16 kilometers, passing through the central part of the island in the North-South direction.
- - El Mercurio de Valparaiso, August 28, 1996
THE FREIGHTER "MAIPO" WILL PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES ON EASTER ISLAND
In order to take part in the activities commemorating the 116th anniversary of the taking of possession of Easter Island, the Navy supply ship "Maipo" will sail Friday, Aug 30, for that island territory, and it will carry the relief of the Navy Infantry Guard on the island, and also cargo for for the island population.The Island was taken over on Sep 9, 1880 by Corvette Captain Policarpo Toro of the National Armada in the name of the government of Chile who travelled there on board the ship "Angamos".
Commander in Chief of the First Naval Zone, Contraadmiral Hernan Couyoumdjian Bergamali, will go to the island on that date in order to take part in the acts of celebration on this new anniversary.
Also on board will be a doctor and an orthodontist who will provide attention to the island people. And also the oceanographer, Paola Otarola, of the U. of Concepcion who will carry out a series of studies in her specialty on the island.
- - El Mercurio de Valparaiso, August 28, 1996
Intendente Laments Death Of Prisoner
Shot by a carabinero who tried to prevent his escape
Intendente (Superintendent) Hardy Knittel laments the death of a prisoner who was being held in the Easter Island jail. He was shot by a carabinero when he tried to escape.This occurred at 3:15 yesterday morning while 1st Corporal Amado Valenzuela was guarding an annex of the Easter Island prison.
At that moment some of those interned tried to escape, among them Esteban Edison Tepano Pakarati, 19, who was shot in the region of the thorax by the carabinero who made use of his fire arm.
Owing to the gravity of his wounds, the victim was taken to the Hanga Roa hospital where he died at 4:20 a.m.
The Intendente lamented the situation saying that "we are speaking of something that is strictly a police matter, but we certainly consider it very unfortunate to put it mildly...."
The Intendente of the (Fifth) Region said that the Islander was being held for his responsibility in the misdemeanors of damages, injuries and forced robbery, processes that were being investigated by the Court of Letters of Easter Island.
The Intendente was informed of these facts early yesterday by the Chief of Carabineros of the Fifth Region, General Jorge Bahamonde.
- - El Mercurio de Valparaiso, August 20, 1996
THE GOVERNOR ASSURES:
"No Groups of Delinquents Exists on the Island"
The High Authority Denies that a Band of Hooded Horsemen are Seeding Terror among the Population.
Island Governor Jacobo Hey Paoa denied that there is a band of hooded horsemen dedicated to commiting acts of violence, as some of the residents have claimed.According to the Governor, who yesterday resumed his duties after having returned from his official vacation, the situation in Easter Island is normal, although he recognized that a while ago, there occurred some disturbances that momentarily disturbed the traditional island peace.
"I want to emphasize that in this territory there is no dangerous social division, nor bands of hooded horsemen that are terrorizing the population, nor that the people are frightened, as have stated some communication media", said Governor Hey.
Nevertheless, Hey Paoa recognized that the police unit on the island is insufficient to protect the security of the Islanders since of the 32 carabineros in the local commisary, only some 15 are assigned to strictly policing duties.
"What occurs", he explained, "is that in this zone, the police simultaneously must carry out labors of maintaining order and security, control of customs and guarding the prision, because public funds are scarce here on the island. Furthermore, as the population has increased, it is understandable that in some cases they have become understaffed."
For his part, the coordinator of the Eater Island liason office in Valparaiso, Gustavo Edmund, agreed with the statements of the governor, but affirmed that the matter of police protection on the island is now under discussion owing to the appearance of the movement "Moai for Peace" (Moai por la Paz), whose members broke into the Court of Letters several weeks ago with the object of rescuing a local who had been detained and who apparently was the leader of the group.
- - El Mercurio de Santiago, May 11, 1996
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