Toward the Autonomy of Rapa Nui? Francesco Di Castri

Rapa Nui Journal: Journal of the Easter Island Foundation Volume 17 Article 9 Issue 2 October

2003 Toward the Autonomy of Rapa Nui? Francesco di Castri

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Recommended Citation di Castri, Francesco (2003) "Toward the Autonomy of Rapa Nui?," Rapa Nui Journal: Journal of the Easter Island Foundation: Vol. 17 : Iss. 2 , Article 9. Available at: https://kahualike.manoa.hawaii.edu/rnj/vol17/iss2/9

This Research Report is brought to you for free and open access by the University of Hawai`i Press at Kahualike. It has been accepted for inclusion in Rapa Nui Journal: Journal of the Easter Island Foundation by an authorized editor of Kahualike. For more information, please contact [email protected]. di Castri: Toward the Autonomy of Rapa Nui? TOWARD THE AUTONOMY OF RAPA NUl ?

Francesco di Castri [email protected]

INTRODUCTIO some tropical agriculture of quality products, and underground water i easily available. The energy problem can also be rather here is an increa ingly widening gap between the potential easily solved through renewable and clean ource, uch as T of Rapa Nui for its economic and cultural development and wind energy for some Ie s touristy part of the i land, and solar the eriou ness and further deterioration of its management energy elsewhere and particularly for more isolated settlements, problems, as well as the inability of the pre ent institutional set as it has been so successfully achieved - for instance - in the ting to understand, face and solve them appropriately. A statute Tuamotu and orne Canary islands. of autonomy - a condition so widespread at present in the world In a large project of the European Community on the In and not only for remote island - could be the be t tarring formation Society, Rapa Nui repre ents the core of a o-called point, the best trigger, to provide new trends, impetus, ap VIAD, a Virtual In titute for Alphabetization for Development proaches and ways of action, and to solve a situation that has (di Castri 2003d). become intolerable. Furthermore, Chile - if Rapa Nui were properly managed and with a wise and large support given to its unique culture THE POTENTIAL OF RAPA NUl and Polynesian language - could use the island as its be t geo political platform or bridge in earch of an economic and cul Few islands of the world, if any, have greater potential for de tural expansion toward the Pacific and Asia. velopment than Rapa Nui; this is in spite of its remoteness. Thi Nevertheless, this i not the ca e at present. Rapa Nui is condition is no longer a factor of economic isolation per se more than three times less rich, when GNP i considered, than within the current information society (di Castri 2oo3a). It doe its neighbor and administratively autonomous French Polynesia not prevent a local empowerment for development and conser (di Ca tri 2002). vation ofcultural and natural heritage (di Castri 2003b). Even more, Rapa Nui now is almost a world sample of The imaginaire of Rapa Nui, the most evoking power of unprecedented and amazing mi takes of land-use planning and attraction for tourism, is the mo t widespread and deeply rooted management, almo t a ymbol of what should not absolutely be in the world (di Castri 1999a, 1999b). The word imaginaire ( 0 done to manage an island of the e condition . The causes or widely used in Europe and even in India), but badly translated bottleneck for such a strange "di a ter" situation are a perma in English as "imaginary", refer to an island a it is imagined nent decision-making crisi and the inherent incompetence of in the world by an individual or collective representation and the manpower in charge of such a management (di Castri perception, but without implying falsity (di Castri et al. 2002a). 1999b,2003e). Tourism marketing consists usually in creating (when it does not already exist) and largely diffusing the imaginaire of a spe RAPA NUl, A WORLD REpRESE ATIO OF M AGEMENT cific land (di Castri 2003c). ERRORS In Europe and increasingly in Asia, Rapa Nui i the sym bolic and charismatic island of the imaginaire, the island of Reviewing and di cussing management mistakes and their con- mana (the Polynesian spiritual force that provides power and equences in Rapa Nui, although restricted to recent periods, vision, even at distance). It is so much so, that mana is progres would imply per se an extensive article. I will only enumerate sively taken in some countries of Europe a ynonymous of lo some of them, a follows. cal empowerment, al 0 because of the difficulty to tran late to I Soil erosion is catastrophic at Rano Raraku (around the cra other languages the notion of "local empowerment". And local ter), Poike and Rano Kau where large parts of the abrupt empowerment, as the mythic mana, is mo tly achieved through slopes are falling to the sea, and it is largely pread every access to and tran mission of information, at di tance and in where. No preventive or soil rehabilitating mea ure are real time, by individuals and local populations, including made in this respect. through the Internet and e-Iearning (di Ca tri et al. 2002b). 2 Overgrazing by horses and cattle i terrific and is ju t point Mana is increasingly taken in Europe as the symbol of the infor less, since there is no need of 0 many hor e (only for mation ociety, in a irnilar way as Polynesian spirituality and touri m purposes), and cattle remains almo t non arts inspired the most important cultural movement of last cen exploited. In the ab ence of fences, hor es and cattle go tury, the surrealism (di Ca tri 1999a). everywhere, in between and over maai and ahu, near Tourism attraction of Rapa Nui is not only ba ed on it Hanga Roa and in more remote parts of the island. Even unique archaeological remains, but also on the wild and forceful the very heavy zebu Brahma has been introduced, further beauty of its land, on the spirituality released from its land aggravating soil erosion. Cattle seems to play a kind of scapes, and on their symbolic repre entation and perception. Of prestige and almost religiou role, as for the nomads of course, only a high-level cultural tourism can valorize this po Africa or the holy cows of India, but thi doe not belong tential. to any historical tradition of Rapa Nui. In addition, soil fertility is very high and appropriate for 3 Uncontrolled grasses and shrub in the National Park consti-

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Published by Kahualike, 2003 1 Rapa Nui Journal: Journal of the Easter Island Foundation, Vol. 17 [2003], Iss. 2, Art. 9 tute a very large biomass of fuel material. When burned, 1 Health facilities in the island are poor. The hospital is inade thi damages the soil and the living organisms therein, but quate to cover modern medical cares. Most biological al 0 the conservation of the archaeological remains. analyses should be done in the continent, and patients 4 It i amazing to see how many alien and damaging species of even for some rather common di ea es - should be trans plants and animals have been introduced to the island, in ported to the continent. Thi i of course, very bad for tentionally or accidentally. No preventive or eradication residents. This is incompatible with the development of measures are taken. high-quality cultural touri rn, where aging people are pro 5 The legitimate land distribution to native Rapanui (1.900 hec gressively involved to become future tourists. tares of estates, five hectares each, that will be followed 2 Education is badly inspired. In pite of the dedication and oon by other 1.500 hectares) was totally unplanned and commitment of a few Rapanui teachers, Spanish is becom unwise, just an allocation by hazard. No technical indica ing the first mother language (at a level of more than 70 % tion has been done on how be t to use thi land. With ex of the entry-school children), and Rapanui is thought of as ception of a few rudimentary installation for irrigation a kind of foreign language. In spite of that, Spanish - in water, no energy, potable water or wa te dispo al and particular the written Spanish - is very rarely mastered by treatment have been foreseen. The entire re-colonized zone native people. i at risk of becoming an ugly quatter settlement, with no 3 Tourism - that represents the basis and the trigger of the over economic return for the settler . all economy of Rapa Nui - is poorly oriented, with sec 6 Tropical agriculture in Rapa Nui is now a trange mixture, a ond-class services and lacking taste, including at several piecemeal of species from coffee to pineapple, from cheri modern hotels (and in spite of their astronomical prices). moya (Annona cherimolla) to papaya, from flowers to tu Some Residenciales are better placed. Tourism in Rapa bers, with no marketing studie on how to place these Nui - at present - follows almo t opposite trend than products to local, national (Chilean) and international mar those of the new paradigm for cultural tourism (di Castri kets. A con iderable amount of the production is, there and Balaji 2002). fore, ju t thrown out. 4 Crime i increasing in Rapa Nui, and this is the major ingle 7 Wa te management is at very serious fault, even in Hanga factor to undermine tourism everywhere in the world. Roa. Various far-reaching problems appear, and dengue in 5 Although it is not measurable because of the special condi the i land is not eradicated yet. tions of Rapa Nui (no taxes are paid by the indigenous is 8 An impre ive inva ion by rats is the most peculiar aspect, at landers and no control is po ible on their income), drain pre ent, in the island. Thou ands of rats penetrate every of capital from the island to foreign countrie (United where, in the official building , in hotel and restaurants, State, French Polyne ia, etc.) eems to be a common fea even in the field where young tree plantation are badly ture, thu preventing further and larger investment for the damaged. Health risks for gastro-enteritis di ea e increa e development of the island. The gap between the rich and accordingly. I am not aware of any measure or plan to the poor in the island is widening. control and hopefully eradicate thi plague. 6 Because of the above points, the Polynesian Rapanui culture 9 Marijuana is widely planted, con umed and openly sold with and value systems are vani bing on the island. The nega little or no control and repression. tive con equences on tourism, because of this loss of cul 10 Too many boats for fishing have been allocated to the island. tural identity, could be immense. Fortunately, most of them are out of u e because a lack of appropriate maintenance. However, over-fishing occurs, A PERMANENT DECISION-MAKING CRISIS IN RAPA NUI and lobster is at risk. 11 Car and motorbike traffic in the i land i almost with no con It is really difficult to understand who makes decisions on the troL. Some casualties for motorbike accidents have oc island, on what technical or political background they are made, curred. The concentration of taxis (large taxis from the and following what kind of plan or cenario for the economic continent, not appropriate to the roads and the conditions and cultural development of Rapa Nul. Some decisions are con of a mall island) is perhaps the highest in the world tradictory, and invalidate and nullify each other. (about a hundred) in relation to the population. They are The Chilean authoritie on the i land eem to have a kind imported without regulations or limitations. No electric or of culpability complex (the Chilean colonization over the island hybrid car have been introduced, a it happens already in wa one of the worst and the mo t ill-conceived in the history of several i land of the world. humankind) and thu are too permi ive about the application of all kind of regulations as well a the fight against crime. Some On conclusion, there is neither land-use planning nor ur Chilean institutions, such as CONAF (the Forestry Corporation ban planning whatsoever on Rapa Nui. There is a management that i in charge of the Rapa Nui National Park) and CORFO plan for the National Park, but it i 100 ely applied or not ap and SASIPA (that look over the agricultural development of the plied, also becau e of shortage of per onnel and lack of appro i land, and in particular the adrnini tration of Hacienda Vaitea), priate manpower. seem to pursue opposite goal, with no coordination. There are also serious general problems that are not attrib This situation is no better among Rapanui institutions, the utable to land mi management. Municipality, the Governor (that i the representative of the Chilean Government, but who is Rapanui himself), The Council of the Elders N° 1, the local Chamber of Tourism (while SER-

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https://kahualike.manoa.hawaii.edu/rnj/vol17/iss2/9 2 di Castri: Toward the Autonomy of Rapa Nui? NATUR is a Chilean governmental agency for tourism), The I could, from different perspectives and interests (di Castri Council of the Elders N° 2, the Rapa Nui Parliament (which is 2003e). pursuing a total political independence from Chile) have dispa During my mission in April, I delivered a full-week semi rate objectives and conflicting interests. nar on "Rapa Nui: Third Millennium. Development, Capacity Mistrust dominates relations between islanders and Conti building and Autonomy", open to tourism operators of different nentales, and is widely spread among Chilean institutions and, types, farmers, handicrafters, teachers and educators, and every above all, among the Rapanui themselves. Neither economy nor body wanting to attend and participate. A very long and ani j rational management can be built on mistrust. mated discussion with the Rapanui Development Commi sion ( took place at the Rapanui "Gobernaci6n" building. More offi I THE INHERENT INCOMPETE CE OF MANPOWER cial contacts were established with the Chilean central authori ties. The university training in continental Chile is rather good, al In June 2003, activities took place mostly in Santiago, but t though it has been progressively declining during the last years. involving several Rapanui coming from the island. Contacts and i Neverthele s, nowhere in Chile does adequate knowledge and activities ranged from the different ministries of the Chilean training exist on how to manage a small Polynesian island like Government (organized and coordinated by CIDEZE, the gov Rapa Nui, including soil erosion, tropical agriculture and animal ernmental committee for the development of the extreme zones husbandry, forestry and agro-forestry, management of national of Chile), including at La Moneda Palace, the Chilean Acad parks, tourism development, renewable energy, control of emies of War (mostly the Army and the Air Forces, but with the plagues and eradication of alien invasive species, appropriate presence of admirals from the Navy), industrialists and entre housing, etc. preneurs, and Chilean Universitie and research institutions, This is understandable, since ecological conditions in con with 2-3 seminars per day. The fact of having received the high tinental Chile - from Arica to Punta Arenas - are diver ified, est Chilean decorations, the Great Cross of the Order Bernardo but do not resemble at all those of a very fragile oceanic and O'Higgins (in 2000), the Ph.D. honoris causa of the National subtropical island as Rapa Nui. Conversely, it would be unrea University of Chile (in 2003) and the Medalla Rectoral (in sonable to create in Chile a career or a specific training adapted 1999) has certainly facilitated my contacts with Chilean authori just to Rapa Nui. ties. Accordingly, when Rapanui students go to continental In July, I organized and chaired an international confer Chile to continue their studies, they cannot find the kind of ence in Italy (held in Rome, Porto Venere and the Palrnaria Is knowledge that would be relevant to their island. In addition, land in the Mediterranean), on ''The Universe of the Islands. they tend to select non-scientific and non-technical (easier) ca From Palmaria, the Fortresses of Knowledge, to Easter Island, reers like law, accountancy, psychology, etc., all fields where the Navel of the World". In spite of the very international nature there is already a surplus in Rapa NuL of this conference - supported at the highest level by the Italian Consequently, profe sionals working in Rapanui or for Presidency, the European Community, the Major of Rome and Rapanui are inherently incompetent to deal with the peculiar several other national and international institutions - the main situation of the island, whatever is the level of their knowledge objective was to give a new impetus to economic and cultural ( acquired in Chile. They tend to use for Rapa Nui a kind of development of Rapa Nui. Both the Governor, Enrique Pakarati, l knowledge applicable to other situations, but irrelevant and of and the Mayor, Petero Edmunds, were invited and actively par ten very disruptive for Rapa Nui. ticipated in the conference, and established a number of invalu There would be a rather easy solution: to send Rapanui able contacts on economic, scientific, training, cultural and ar students and post-graduate Chileans to study in places where an tistic venues to be developed in Rapa Nui during the forthcom excellent know-how exists on how to manage mall tropical is ing months and years. lands, such as Hawai'i, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Canary During all the period from December 2002 to July 2003, Islands or the specialized institutions for overseas research, de permanent and intense contact and continuity of actions were velopment and training in France and the United Kingdom. This achieved through e-mail. is very rarely done; it represents almost an accident. Facing the immense problems of Rapa Nui, maintenance As a negative result, even some routine and easily applica of status quo and "business as usual" are no Longer conceivable. ble management practices from French Polynesia or Hawai'i Three solutions are considered to change the statute of the is tend to be unknown or ignored in Rapa Nui. land: a much greater administrative decentralization as regards AUTONOMY, A DIFFERENT STATUTE FOR RAPA NUl the Chilean central Government, autonomy within the Chilean sovereignty, and full independence from Chile. Joining by Rapa Having in mind the untenable situation of Rapa Nui as de Nui and integrating the autonomous territory of French Polyne scribed above, I decided to concentrate - during the last months sia has no political feasibility whatsoever. I from December 2002 to July 2003 - a greater attention and a Decentralization would be good, as compared with present ~ considerable amount of my working time, trying to review in situation (at least Rapa Nui would tand out from its unwise de c depth the management problems of the island and to illustrate pendence within the Fifth Region of Chile, that of Valparaiso), ( some possible solutions to Chilean and Rapanui authorities. A but it is far from being enough. None of the structural problems f mission to Rapa Nui and Chile from December 2002 to January of the i land would be soLved with just increased decentraliza 2003 was a kind of survey, exploring in depth the consequences tion. [ ( of such a bad management and talking with as many Rapanui as Chile would never accept the independence of the island.

Rapa Nui Journal 128 Vol. 17 (2) October 2003 Published by Kahualike, 2003 3 Rapa Nui Journal: Journal of the Easter Island Foundation, Vol. 17 [2003], Iss. 2, Art. 9 In any ca e, international negotiation and arbitrage would take of Chile, ex-Minister, members of the Senate and the Chilean orne ten years or more. Furthermore, the original document of Parliament, in addition to the Governor, the Major and the the annexation by Chile in 1888, hown in Rapa Nui and ex President of the Council of the Elder of Ea ter I land - has plained by Grant McCall in June 2002 - a document implying voted unanimously in July 2003 in favor of a statute contem that Chile ha never ratified the Act of Annexation - repre ents plating autonomy (another option wa also proposed, a an al an interesting hi torical finding, but its value in international ternative, but totally rejected). It is rather suggested for Rapa jurisprudence for changing the statute of Rapa Nui i very low Nui to become a "Territori 0 especial con condiciones de or irrelevant. Finally, the economic and social situation of small autonomJa" (Special territory with autonomou conditions), Polynesian independent states, uch a the Kingdom of Tonga since it eem to be the formula most compatible with ju t a mi or Western Samoa, is extremely bad, close to a disaster, 10 to nor change of the Chilean constitution. Of cour e, the denomi 17 times poorer than French Polynesia when GNP is consid nation "Territorio Aut6nomo de Rapa Nui" would have been ered, even 3 to 5 times poorer than Rapa Nui. Incidentally, this better to increase the geopolitical visibility and appreciation of is the u ual pattern when independent mall i lands are com Chile through thi process, but substantively it mean the ame pared with dependent, but autonomous, i lands sharing similar for Rapa Nui. ecological and resource conditions (McElroy and Mahoney Chilean newspapers in June, July and Augu t 2003, a 2000). well as radio and television programs, were almo t everyday Autonomy is the only viable solution for Rapa Nui. It has providing news and information about thi proce s. To my proved to give excellent result in archipelagos uch as tho e of knowledge, never before there has been in Santiago such un French Polynesia, Canary I land, Balearic Islands, in addition precedented interest on Rapa Nui. Some articles are quoted as a to New Caledonia and practically all Mediterranean i lands. ample (Boletfn Universidad de Chile 2003, di Castri 2003f, Autonomy does not apply only to i land , but also to regions 2003g, 2003h, El Mercurio 2003a, 2003b, Guzman 2003, La within a country (for example, all regions of Spain Wales, Tercera 2003a, b, c, d, Pinochet de la Barra 2003). In mo t of Scotland and North Ireland in the United Kingdom, Quebec in them, my own personal role and contribution to the overall Canada, Lapland in Norway, and this list could be extremely process of autonomy and to new trends for development in long). Autonomy is - in the pre ent world - the most viable Rapa Nui are fairly mentioned. situation to face the challenges of globalization with specific, In Rapa Nui itself, indigenous people freely discu auton cultural-centered and economically competitive responses. omy - a concept totally unfamiliar to them until recently - tak Autonomy does not go against the sovereignty of a given coun ing into account and con ulting the two best example in the try, Chile in thi ca e. The primary functions of a State-Nation world of island autonomy, those of French Polynesia and of the remain untouched: justice, defen e, international relations and Canary I land (Spain), both of 1996 (but a new vaster statute treaties, respect to con titution and law. For some other func of autonomy is in preparation in French Polynesia right now). tions and attributes, there is a so-called "devolution" of compe Probably for the fir t time in several years, the three authorities tence from the central tate to an autonomou territory. While of the i land, the Major, the Governor and the Pre ident of the varying in the world from one to another autonomy tatute, Council of the Elder, have to be aligned and pursuing irnilar devolution refer usually to education, health, land tenure, land objectives. use and planning, taxation system, control of migratory flows, Unavoidably, there are objections and rejections to auton all aspect having a paramount dimension for economic and cul omy both in continental Chile and Rapa Nui. In Chile, some tural development. The unity, integrity and identity of a State people and politician are reluctant to give a statute of pecial are in no way undermined by autonomy. Rather they are en territory and autonomy to Rapa Nui, ince this can open the hanced and strengthened, because of the decrease of conflictive door for several other claiming of similar type: the Mapuches, ten ions and a better economic development and wealth. the Aymara, perhap Chiloe Island, Tierra del Fuego, Arica, etc. 1 the Rapanui society mature and respon ible to acquire This is totally under tandable, becau e - within the centralized this kind of autonomy as described above? Probably not yet, but political traditions of Chile, unlike many European and A ian it will never become mature and responsible unless an auton countries - there is little room for territorial autonomy and even omy proce initiates. Autonomy, local empowerment and local real decentralization (incidentally, this implies a serious adapta governance are attributes and condition that are learned pro tion crisis of Chile vis-a-vis the challenges of globalization). gre ively by doing. The e further claims are, in fact, expectable. In my view, they would be even very good to provide a new impetus to the Chil CO CLUSIO S ean economy and to reaffirm a strong Chilean identity based on the respect of different cultures. When thi proce started in April 2003, hardly anyone from the In Rapa Nui, group claiming a total independence from Rapanui and Chilean authorities was in favor of an autonomy Chile still exist, while they eem to repre ent a small minority. statute. They were suspicious and reluctant. They were unaware This is understandable too. From one ide, nothing is more ap of the concept., praxis and implementation of autonomy, in spite pealing for a people than the word of "independence", although of the fact that this process is currently so common in the world, in this ca e obstacle and constraints to achieve it are impossi particularly in Europe and some parts of A ia. ble to overcome. On the other side, it is not easy to forget how At present, the Group of Per onalities (Grupo de Person har h Chile ha been in the past. During its colonization, the alidades) nominated by the Chilean Government to look upon entire Rapanui population was locked in a kind of fenced con the statute of Rapa Nui - a group that include an ex-President centration camp - Hanga Roa - for some 70 year in order to

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https://kahualike.manoa.hawaii.edu/rnj/vol17/iss2/9 4 di Castri: Toward the Autonomy of Rapa Nui? allow for a large sheep ranch, something unique in the history di Castri F. 2002. Diversification, Connectivity and Local Empow of world's colonization. The groups desiring total independence erment for Tourism Sustainability in South Pacific. A network belong mostly to the Rapa Nui Parliament and to the Council of from French Polynesia to Easter Island. F. di Castri and V. Elder N° 2. Some of their claims, the establishment of a King Balaji Eds., Tourism, Biodiversity and Information. Leiden: dom, the nomination of a King (on what grounds?) with a mall Backhuys Publishers :257-284. group of counselors, the union in only one country of all people di Castri F. 2003a. Access to information and e-Iearning for local empowerment. The requisit for human development and envi and land from Polynesia, are either non-democratic or non ronmental protection. e-Learning and GRID Technologies: a realistic. fundamental challenge for Europe. Ecole Centrale, Learning In this moment, autonomy is a ball in the court of the Chil Grid of Excellence Working Group. Paris: 1-8. ean and Rapanul authority. Hopefully, they will not lose this di Castri F. 2003b. Access to information and local empowerment unique opportunity for a turning point in the history of Rapa as a paradigm for conciliating conservation and development. Nui, a turning point toward a development with dignity and cul F. Vigier Ed., Protecting Cultural and Natural Heritage in the tural pride, in close alliance and partnership with Chile. What Western Hemisphere: Lessons from the past; Looking to the ever the final decision and results might be, conditions in Rapa future. Center for Urban Development Studies, Harvard Uni NUl can only improve now, because of a new awareness of the versity, Cambridge, MA :1-6. Chilean authorities, of Chilean public opinion and Rapanui di Castri F. 2003c. Tourism for community development and local themselves on the situation of the island and its potentially great empowerment. Proceedings ofthe EuroMAB Meeting, October destiny to reach the universality of a culture. 2002. UNESCO and Academy of Sciences, Rome:108-109. di Castri F. 2003d. Virtual Institute for Alphabetization for Devel ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS opment (VIAD). VIAD in the Easter Island - Internet for us tainable development and e-Iearning in the Easter Island Two pillars in this process have been Edgard Hereveri and his (Chile). S. Ristol (Coordinator), European Learning GRID In friendly staff at Cabanas Vai Moana (Rapa NUl) and Maria Ines frastructure. Information Society Technologies (1ST) Pro Ruz, Chief of CIDEZE (the Chilean governmental Committee gramme, European Community, Brussels :71-76. di Castri F. 2003e. The Dynamic Future of Rapa Nui. Rapa Nui for the Development of the Extreme Zones), and her competent Journal 17(1):44-48. and motivated staff, in particular Dario Cabezas. During the di Castri F. 2003f. Las prioridades arnbientaJes de Chile son aquel conference and trips in Italy, as well as in Rapa Nui, I have en las de la casi difunta sociedad industrial y no de la naciente joyed the friendship and cooperation of the Governor Enrique sociedad de la informaci6n. ECOAMERICA 26: 40-42. Pakarati (and his wife Ximena) and of the Major Petero Ed di Castri F. 2003g. Isla de Pascua es el centro de los horrores que se munds. Ema Tuki, Chief of CONADI (National Commission pueden cometer en un territorio. El Mercurio, 20 June 2003. for Indigenous Development) has helped organizing the April di Castri F. 2003h. Sobre la autonomia de Rapa Nui. La Nadon seminars in Rapa Nui. Jorge Fuentes Mosca has had a major Santiago. 12 August 2003. role in organizing the seminars and the contacts with the Chil di Castri F., J. McElroy, P. Sheldon and V. Balaji 2oo2a. Geo ean War Academies. Andrea Seelenfreund has invited me to graphic Regions: the Islands. Introduction to the Section. F. di give an open lecture on Rapa NUl at her university, with partici Castri and V. Balaji Eds., Tourism, Biodiversity and Informa pation also of part of the Rapanul community in Santiago. Paz tion. Leiden: Backhuys Publishers: 137-149. Barros has helped organizing the seminars on Rapa Nui at the di Castri F., P. Sheldon M. Conlin, P. Boniface and V. Balaji 2002b. international FISA trade fair on environmental technology. Information, Communication and Education for Tourism De Lorenzo Moscia has been documenting and filming as much as velopment. F. di Castri and V. Balaji Eds., Tourism, Biodiver sity and Information. Leiden: Backhuys Publishers :420-429. he could of this proce s. Merahi Rapu has organized and partici di Castri F. and V. Balaji Eds., 2002. Tourism, Biodiversity and In- pated to the Rapanui ballets at the FISA fair, and contributed to formation. Leiden: Backhuys Publishers. the participation of Rapanui students to happenings in Santiago. El Mercurio. 2003a. Entrevista a Francesco di Castri. 20 June 2003. Thanks to her motivation for the promotion of Rapanui culture El Mercurio. 2oo3b. Editorial. Isla de Pascua. 31 July 2003. and art, Merahi has provided an inspiring and charming leitmo Guzman I. 2003. Francesco di Castri. EI estratega que ayud6 a tiv to the overall process. planear la autonomia para Isla de Pascua. La Tercera. 28 July I thank all of them, and the many other Rapanui and Chil 2003. ean friends that are not listed here. La Tercera. 2003a. EI anhelo Rapa Nui. 25 July 2003. La Tercera. 2003b. Isla de Pascua sera territorio aut6nomo. 25 July REFERENCES 2003. La Tercera. 2oo3c. Isla de Pascua tendea una sede en Las Condes. Boletfn Universidad de Chile. 2003. di Castri dice que Chile tiene 27 July 2003. gran potencial genetico en su flora. 27 June 2003. La Tercera. 2003d. Isla de Pascua e convertira en el nuevo polo Carvajal C. and G. Cruzat 2003. Avanza plan de autonomfa de Isla cientifico de Polinesia. 4 August 2003. de Pascua. El Mercurio, 26 July 2003. McCall, G. 2002. Lecture presented on the island. di Castri F. 1999a. Tahitian and French Influences in Easter Island, McElroy J. L. and M. Mahoney, 2000. Economics: the Propensity or the Zoopal Mistery Solved Thanks to Grant McCall. Rapa for Political Dependence in Island Microstates. INSULA, Inter Nui Journal 13(4):100-106. national Journal ofIsland Affairs 9(1):32-35. di Castri F. 1999b. Scenarios of Tourism Development in Easter Pinochet de la Barra O. 2003. Nuestra responsabilidad en Isla de Island. INSULA, International Journal of Island Affairs 8 Pascua. La. Segunda, 30 June 2003. 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