Easter Island Protest - Airport shut down (Aug 18)

In case you missed this news from earlier this month.

August 18, 2009 ... The Santiago Times

All flights to and from Easter Island were temporarily cancelled, following a series of protests at the island’s Mataveri Airport over the weekend. The airport finally restarted operations at 4 p.m. on Monday, after Easter Island Governor Carolina Hotu was able to convince the islanders to end the protest by promising talks.

The difficulties started on Saturday when a group of around 50 locals brought all aerial operations to a halt by blocking the runway with their cars and tents, demanding tighter controls on tourism and immigration. The activists, part of the “Parlamento Rapa Nui” movement, claim the increasing number of travelers and people electing to live permanently on the island is damaging the fragile ecosystem and causing problems like delinquency and overpopulation.

On Monday morning, the Civil Aeronautical Management (DGAC) said flights will be cancelled until a solution is found. Over the weekend LAN was forced to suspend at least three flights and cancel others. The changes affected more than 600 people, many of whom waited for over 12 hours in Santiago’s international airport waiting to hear if their flights would go ahead.

Valeri Vasquez and Catherine Clarcky travelled from the United States to visit Easter Island for three days and had already booked their accommodation. “We are annoyed because the airline hasn’t given us a reasonable explanation and we’ve already lost a whole day of exploring the island,” said Vasquez.

LAN handed out meals to their passengers and also offered overnight accommodation to those who needed it.

On Sunday, the Easter Island protest leaders, Mario Tuki and Raul Teao, made their demands to Interior Undersecretary Patricio Rosende. They want to see strict regulations put in place to limit tourist stays, stop migration and ban people with criminal records from the island. They are also concerned about the many Chileans or “contis” who come for a holiday and end up staying for good, putting growing pressure on the island’s unique ecosystem.

They suggested all visitors be required to obtain a special visa to guarantees their return to their country of origin.

According to Carolina Hotus, governor of Easter Island, the discontent started when it was discovered many of the builders working on a construction site for a new hotel had criminal records and were not from the island.

“The only thing we are looking for is an answer from the government regarding the need for greater control on who comes to Easter Island,” said Easter Island Mayor Luz Zasso. “We ask for example, that those who arrive have a card which describes the activity they will be doing here, just like is done in the Galapagos Islands.”

“This is a small and fragile community,” she said. “This isn’t just about the present, but this is a concern that has been around for the past ten years. The airport takeover is not just affecting 600 people, it is affecting everybody. The only thing they seek is a concrete answer from the government.”

For Alberto Hotus, president of the Council of Elders and the highest traditional authority on Easter Island, the protestors “are a minority group of trouble-makers who in the end just want Easter Island’s independence from Chile.”

I can respect locals concerns, however can you imagine finally getting to go on a dream vacation to Rapa Nui, only to end up "stuck" in Santiago? It's a good advertisement for travel insurance.