UBCIC Condemns Chilean Govt's Attack on Unarmed Rapa Nui

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URGENT NEWS RELEASE

(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, Canada - December 4, 2010) The
Chilean government, and most recently the Canadian government, adopted
the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
within the bounds of their legal and constitutional frameworks. The
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by Chile and
143 States at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2007.
Yesterday, December 3, 2010, after months of relatively peaceful
reoccupation of their lands, Chilean troops opened fire on unarmed Rapa
Nui (Easter Island) People.

(NOTE: Turtle Island Native Network draws your attention to the following link
http://saverapanui.org/ )

http://saverapanui.org/

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs
stated "What the Chilean government did was ugly, unbelievable and
reprehensible. We as Indigenous Peoples must condemn the Chilean
government for these unacceptable acts of violence and brutality. The
UBCIC supports the Rapa Nui People protecting their lands, their island
and their archaeological treasure, the Moai. Chile's President
Sebastian Pinera must be directly involved to resolve this growing
crisis."

As many as 50,000 tourists travel each year to see the Moai - huge stone
heads carved by the Rapa Nui's ancestors. In recent years, tourism and
migration have increased pressure to control available land on the 10
mile by 15 mile island, and the Rapa Nui have increasingly taken matters
into their own hands, seizing a dozen properties they said were
illegally taken from their families generations ago. The latest media
reports state additional reinforcements have landed on the island and
Chile's Interior Minister stating they will continue "evicting" Rapa Nui
People.

"As Indigenous Peoples, our fight is the same the world over. Indigenous
Title and Rights are ignored, dismissed and violated," said Grand Chief
Phillip. "Chile is one of many countries who adopted the UN Declaration
but continue to deny the international legal reality of our Indigenous
Title and Rights. As demonstrated yesterday, it seems the Chilean
government would rather attack unarmed people than find a lasting and
peaceful solution. In the spirit and true intent of the Declaration on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the UBCIC calls on the Canadian
government to join the many voices of many Peoples to denounce the
violent actions of the Chilean government."

Media inquiries:

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Union of BC Indian Chiefs

Phone: (250) 490-5314

The UBCIC is a NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and
Social Council of the United Nations.

MORE: http://www.google.ca/search?q=Rapa%20Nu ... &source=og