INDIGENOUS RAPA NUI SHUT DOWN EASTER ISLANDʻS TOURIST SITES
Traditional Leaders Assert Authority Over Chilean Administered Park
On March 26, Rapa Nui leaders coordinated by Parlamento Rapa Nui, a hua‘ai (extended family) based indigenous political organization led by democratically elected President Leviante Araki, shut down the Chilean administered national park of Easter Island.
Between March 26 and March 29 access to the major "tourist sites" such as Rano Raraku (the place the world famous moai statues were carved) and Ranu Kau (home of the "bird-man" ceremonies and petroglyphs) were closed to the public and reclassified as "patrimonial territory" and "ancestral property" of Te Hau Rapa Nui (the Rapa Nui Nation).
The major access roads to the park were blocked by felled trees and Rapa Nui leaders.
In response to the arrival of state riot police and dialogues with Chilean government authorities, limited access to the "park" resumed on March 29 coordinated through Parlamento Rapa Nui offices centralized in the main town of Hanga Roa.
On Wednesday, April 1st, access increased and road blocks were reduced to three located at Rano Kau, Vai Tea (central), and Hua Reva (south coast).
Tourists were granted access after registering with the Parlamento Rapa Nui central office or on site patrimonial territory coordinators; however, guides and tour operators not of Rapa Nui descent or with no marital ties to Rapa Nui, were denied access.
On Monday, April 6, the remaining road blocks were removed, but access remains coordinated by Parlamento Rapa Nui.
