International Red Cross Assistance Sought for Rapa Nui

The Pacific Conference of Churches (PCC) is deeply concerned about the plight of the Rapa Nui people following the engagement of Chilean troops on civilians that began Friday morning (3 December 2010) and is seeking the assistance of the International Red Cross to be on the ground to assist the victims of severe repression by the Chilean authorities.

Sources from Rapa Nui informed the PCC that three Chilean military aircrafts had arrived on the island since Friday to boost the military presence on the ground. The Rapa Nui Parliament (Parliament of the original owners of Rapa Nui) has been secretly informed that the engagement will only end when the Rapa Nui people give up the peaceful reoccupation of their land that began a few months back.

The situation inflamed early Friday morning when Chilean troops began rounding up and beating unarmed civilians, and later opened fire using automatic rifles, shotguns and tear gas when civilians began throwing rocks back to them in defence.

The Pacific Conference of Churches invites all its churches and people of the Pacific to pray for the people of Rapa Nui in their struggle for self-determination. PCC general secretary Fe’iloakitau Tevi is also calling on the Pacific Islands Forum and Pacific Island governments to note the developments on Rapa Nui and to monitor the extremely violent manner in which the Chilean government is handling the situation on Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island. A video clip on the attack can be viewed on our website http://www.pcc.org.fj/

ENDS

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