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| News from 2007 News from 2008 3 October 2008 Legal battle comes to an end for Henua - but not for the accused (PUNA) The Council of Advisers ruled in favor of the Kingdom of Kemr, declaring that eight accused conspirators in the attempted murder of Andrew Morris should be tried by the Kemrese government, not by Morris's personal government of the island of Lundy. The ruling, announced Friday afternoon, handed full responsibility for the case over to Kemr and was seen as a way for Henua's council to wash their hands of what is sure to be a long and difficult criminal case. In their ruling, the Council also announced formal charges of conspiracy and attempted murder against eight of the ten foreign contractors currently in their custody. The other two detainees will receive summons as witnesses. Against the protests of the home nations of the accused, the "Orongo Eight" will be transported to Kemr "as soon as time allows". Immediately after announcing the ruling, the Justice Committee met to prepare a final draft of proposed reforms to Henua's courts. The proposal will, in the words of Justice Adviser Ma'oa, "ensure that Henua never has another month like this again." 25 September 2008 Morris, Kemrese minister face off in Henua Council (IBAP/EET) "Private empire builder" Andrew Morris and Kemrese charge d'affaires Cefin Ffeil Padrig argued before Henua's council Thursday over how to proceed with the investigation and trial of ten Polynesians suspected of plotting and attempting Morris's assassination. The ten men, all employees of the Aotearoan firm Haukai Poronehia, remain in the joint custody of Henua and Chilean security forces. The Henua government has expressed willingness to hand them over to Morris's home country. Today's arguments in the Council chamber centered on just what that country is. Morris is English by birth but makes his primary residence on the Isle of Lundy, a small island in Kemrese waters. He also is the sole ruler of Lundy under a 700-year-old provision of the senate of Dumnonia, an autonomous province of Kemr. Morris claimed that his true citizenship is with Lundy, and requested that his own civil government take charge of the suspected conspirators. Ffeil Padrig argued that handing them over to a "personal court" would violate their rights under international law. Diplomats from the suspects' home nations of Fiji, Toga, and Aotearoa will address the Council tomorrow and are expected to argue against Morris. Several factors complicate the Council's decision. On the one hand, Kemr is am important regional ally, with strong ties to Tahiti and Tubai. former Kemrese colonies and two of Henua's relatively close neighbors in the Pacific. Morris, meanwhile, is extremely unpopular in traditionally anti-colonial Henua for his perceived attempt to reintroduce imperialism to the Tokelau islands. On the other hand, Morris would try the alleged conspirators for attempted assassination of a foreign head of state, whereas Kemr would likely only try them for attempted murder. Considering the immense trouble the crime has caused them, the Council members may seek the stronger charge. The spectacle of an international billionaire and the minister from a powerful kingdom pleading their cases before the Council of this tiny island country was a new one for Henua, and the galleries of the Council chamber were crowded with spectators, most of whom loudly derided Morris. Several spectators had to be escorted out of the building so that Morris could have the chance to speak. 23 September 2008 Foreign pressure, royal decree procure trials, fines, release for North American tourists (IBAP/EET) Eleven tourists from continental North America charged with unruly behavior were fined and released Tuesday following a quick trial before Henua's Council of Advisers. The eleven had been in jail in the capital, Hanga Roa, for nearly two weeks while the Council debated how to handle their cases. Yesterday, King Nga'ara issued a proclamation that the tourists should be tried before the entire Council, with the king himself presiding. According to Henua's constitution, this is the preferred means of trying foreigners for crimes committed in the kingdom, but rarely is it invoked for such minor infractions. Legal action had been delayed for days by a movement within the council to set up a new court to replace Henua's traditional justice system. Justice Adviser Ma'oa Petero has been advocating sweeping reforms since his reelection this past winter. Ma'oa and his allies said that they refused to hold a trial for the tourists before the system was fixed. But they faced intense foreign pressure to hear the trials immediately. King Nga'ara's decree stated that he agreed with Ma'oa's reforms in principle, but said that immediate action was needed "out of fairness to our guests and to maintain our friendships with their home nations." Henua has no independent judiciary, the administration of justice being the only remaining power still in the hands of the island's seven clans. 19 September 2008 Six suspects released in blast investigation; 21 more remain in custody (IBAP/EET contribution to BBC News) [BEGIN RADIO TRANSCRIPT] BH: An international crisis is brewing on the island of Henua, better known as Easter Island, where more than 20 foreigners remain in custody without charges or trial one week after the attempted assassination of Andrew Morris. Morris, the wealthy Englishman famously known as a "self-made emperor," personally owns a number of islands around the world. He was nearly killed Friday last by a bomb blast in an Easter Island stadium. IBAP correspondent Mikhail Hamada is on Easter Island with the details. MH: Crowds of protesters are a rare site in Henua, a normally peaceful nation of 10,000 people occupying the remotest island country in the world. But for several days, foreign workers and tourists have been angrily protesting the treatment that their fellow-countrymen have received as the island's government tries to get to the bottom of Morris's attempted assassination. [Sounds of crowd chanting in Maori] MH: "Send Them Home," is the cry of these protesters, all employees of Haukai Poronehia, the Aotearoan firm that managed Henua's 200th anniversary celebration. It was Haukai Poronehia workers that built the stadium where the bomb was planted, and the government's investigation has therefore focused largely on these employees. But company workers say they're being unfairly targeted. The sheer remoteness of Henua, and its often confusing legal system, are adding to the workers' frustration. PROTESTER (TRANSLATION DUBBED): If Henua thinks they did it, they should be charged. Otherwise, they should be set free. They have no right to just keep them here, stranded so far from home, not knowing what's going to happen to them. MH: Haukai Poronehia's bosses told reporters they have tried to stop their workers from protesting, but it does not appear they're trying very hard. This morning the Henua government did release six Haukai Poronehia employees, all citizens of Aotearoa. But ten others remain in custody. These ten reflect the broad international makeup of the company's workforce, hailing from such Pacific countries as Fiji, Samoa, and Toga. In addition, eleven other foreigners remain in jail for unruly behavior in the days following the attack. The reason for their continued detention: political gridlock in Henua's council. Ma'oa Petero is Henua's Justice Adviser, and he claims Henua's legal system is out of date. He has been urging Henua's ruling Council to set up a new court structure to hear the trials of all current detainees. Other Council members, especially Foreign Adviser Rano'ika Pa'oa, argue that enacting reforms now will take too much time, especially for those accused only of minor offenses. The debate in the Council continues, its eventual resolution unknown. Meanwhile, diplomats from the American mainland have descended upon the island arguing for the immediate release of their citizens. Delegates from Montrei, Alta California, Oregon, and Castilian Central America have all complained before Henua's Council. Mr. Morris himself remains in hospital under tight security provided by the Republic of Chile. His own legal status is one of the most persistently confounding puzzles in international politics, and only adds to the confusion of this case, which has totally disrupted the normal functioning of this small island kingdom. For IBAP, this is Mikhail Hamada. [END RADIO TRANSCRIPT] 17 September 2008 Muted Tangata Manu race brings Henua bicentenniel to "disappointing" end (IBAP/EET) Kiokio Pa'oa of Clan Ra'a won Henua's famous Tangata Manu race Sunday, presenting the first frgate bird egg of spring to King Nga'ara at his throne at Orongo. The ritual race, believed to bestow the power and mana of the bird upon Henua's ruler for another year, has changed little since Henua's kings appropriated it from the warrior class exactly 200 years ago. Every year, another champion has emerged victorious from the grueling swimming and climbing race. This year, Kiokio's victory should have been particularly spectacular, as Henua's government sought to make the race larger and more elaborate than ever to attract crowds of tourists from abroad. But with most of the tourists either departed or packing up before the conculusion of the 2-week celebration, only a few stragglers were left among the mostly native Henua crowd gathered to watch on the cliff side. "It really is disappointing, to see it end like this," said one onlooker, a visitor from Oregon. "You think about the work the whole island has put into this event, only to have it ruined by some crazy terrorists." Many spectators expressed anger at the still-unknown perpetrators of the attempted assassination of Andrew Morris. Others, however, were more upset with the Henua government'shandling of the situation. "They basically cancelled the whole festival, but wouldn't let anyone leave," said another Oregonian on his way to the aerodrome. "Basically, every foreigner was treated like a suspect, and there was really no sympathy for the fact that here we were, at the end of the world, with no place to go. It felt like the end of an Inspector Watson novel, where no one can leave the room until the detective can figure it all out." While the festival clearly accomplished its goal of drawing tourist money to the island, the attempted assassination and its chaotic aftermath have done little to improve Henua's image abroad. Still unresolved are the fates of as many as 30 people still being detained by Henua and Chilean police, some as suspects, but most for unruly behavior during the island's three-day lockdown.Henua Justice Adviser Ma'oa Petero revealed few details but told the press simply that "the Council will shortly enact special and extraordinary measures to ensure that everyone in custody receives a fair trial." 13 September 2008 Chilean police arrive in Henua (PUNA) As Henua's state of emergency entered a second day following a blast targeting English tourism magnate Andrew Morris, police detectives and security forces arrived from Chile to aid in the investigation. For two days, tourists visiting Henua for the Tangata Manu festival have been unable to leave the island as all flights have been grounded, while new visitors arriving to see the festival's conclusion have been confined to the country's only aerodrome. The Chilean forces, contracted via Henua's Interpol office, were flown in via aeroplane, an unusual and expensive step deemed necessary due to the urgency of the situation. They have detained multiple suspects but are keeping their investigations confidential. Meanwhile, the festivities, planned to be more elaborate than ever this year for Henua's bicentenniel, have ground to a halt. The crowds of tourists, estimated at over 6000 compared with a national population of only 10,000, have responded in a variety of ways ranging from staying in their hotel rooms as requested, to one group arrested today while attempting to break down the doors to the aerodrome terminal. Justice Adviser Ma'oa Petero refused multiple requests for an interview. 12 September 2008 Andrew Morris in stable condition following attack (IBAP/EET) English-Kemrese ecotourism magnate Andrew Morris is in stable condition a day after an explosion believed to have been an assassination attempt, Henua officials reported Saturday. Henua's head of government, Chief Adviser Kupenga Tuki, addressed reporters personally in a press conference, the first held since the blast brought the country's bicentenniel festivities to a sudden halt. After announcing a national state of emergency, Kupengi said, "After conducting preliminary investigations at the site, Henua's gendarmerie believes that this was likely a deliberate attempt on Mr. Morris's life. The explosion was centered directly below the cordoned-off section where Mr. Morris was sitting, and the blast coincided with his arrival to the stadium." Adviser Kupenga would not speculate on the identity of the would-be assassin or assassins, saying, "We don;t even know if the bomb was placed by a Henua or a foreigner." The apparent attack occurred Friday just before a musical competition in Takataka Orongo, the main venue for Henua's heavily promoted festival. Morris had just arrived and taken his seat when the blast ripped through the air and destroyed a large portion of the stands. 37 people were taken to Hanga Roa for treatment; 15 have since been released. Privately, royal guard officers requesting anonymity told reporters that Morris's dealings have made him unpopular in most of Polynesia, and that many of the tourists, reporters, diplomatic aides, or contractors visiting from throughout the region could potentially have attempted to assassinate him. Emperor Konstantinos XII of Greece was also present at the musical competition when the explosion went off, but was sitting far from the blast and was uninjured. 12 September 2008 Blast in Orongo (Ratio te Pito news update, released through IBAP/EET) [BEGIN RADIO TRANSCRIPT] RH: We interrupt this broadcast for this urgent news update. Minutes ago, an explosion beneath the seats of Takataka Orongo [1] has injured several dozen people, including English billionaire Moriti Anetere [2], famous as the future proprietor of Tokelau. No deaths have been reported. Greek Emperor Kotatino [3] was also present at the site but is apparently uninjured. It is not yet known what or who caused the blast, or whether it was a deliberate attempt on the life of Morris or Kotantino. Security forces have already sealed off Orongo to prevent anyone from entering or leaving the capital. Ratio te Pito will continue to broadcast updates as events unfold. With Ratio te Pito, this is Rapahango Hieronimo. [END TRANSCRIPT] [1] - Orongo stadium [2] - Andrew Morris [3] Konstantinos -- IBAP/EET 8 September 2008 "I didn't know they'd be naked:" Haka pe'i prelim finds tourists unprepared (PUNA) Monday's race on the slopes of Rano Kau was undoubtedly the best attended haka pe'i event in the history of the sport - and it was only a preliminary event, not a championship. But many of the more than 2000 estimated spectators were not fully prepared for the sight of unclothed and bodypainted men sliding down the hillside on sleds of banana brush. "I knew this would be a dangerous cultural sport," said one middle-aged woman, a tourist from Montrei. "But I didn't know they'd be naked." Other foreign spectators expressed similar sentiments. An audible gasp was heard from the crowd as the first racer, Riro Veriamo of the Nonoho clan, slid past the barricades, whatever garments he had put on left halfway up the hill. As every Henua knows, haka pe'i contestants' attire is highly ceremonial and adheres to strict traditional guidelines. They wear courtesy coverings for the loins, but these (the coverings) rarely can withstand the rigors of the sled race. No tourists have been reported to leave the country over the unexpected nudity. Officials are debating whether the news will likely hurt or boost attendance at the next round of races. 6 September 2008 Henua bicentenniel opening dazzles visitors (IBAP/EET) The opening of Henua's famous Birdman festival is always a striking event, but its opening Saturday, marking the 200th anniversary of Henua's modern constitution, pushed the island kingdom's capacity for spectacle to the limit. More than 8000 foreign tourists, journalists, and dignitaries filled the temporary stadium erected a mile north of Orongo, the precarious clifftop location of the Birdman contest for centuries: a bewildering crowd for a nation with only 10,000 residents. The lavish opening ceremony was an eclectic mix of dance, ritual theater, music, pyrotechnics, and the centerpiece of the night's event, the unveiling of a new moai stone statue. Henua's last full-size moai was built in 1996 for the coronation of King Nga'ara III. One of Henua's most ancient laws restricts the building of moai to the king, and then only on occasions of great importance. The twelve year hiatus gave the event an air of great anticipation both in Polynesia and in the wider art world. The artist, tuhunganui mo'ai (master sculptor) Hea Araki, had assembled an international team of art experts to offer advice and criticism. The statue's carving and erection, however, adhered to a strictly traditional protocol. Hea, locally known as something of a recluse, would not consent to a full interview, but did relate that "We made him [the moai] in the quarry for three years, under a tent so nobody could see us. Most moai do not take this long. We took three years because we wanted it done right." The final effect is stunning. Far from the clunky stone heads of American Geographer, the work of Hea and his team is a graceful blend of traditional and foreign styles. Appropriately, it depicts Tupahotu V, the king who in 1808 broke the power of the old ruling clan when he became Henua's first elected king. Tupahotu wears the feathered cape of the king in his role as Birdman, and he holds a tablet bearing the text of the constitution, anachronistically including all modern amendments. The climactic unveiling of the statue was preceded by three hours of artistic performances. The Agreement of the Seven Chiefs of 1808, the festival's central focus, was reinacted through song and dance. After that came the requisite official speeches, provacative Polynesian dances, and a performance by Te Vero Pativika, Tahiti's internationally famous fuzio band. The ceremony concluded with a lavish fireworks display. Despite the scale and expense of the celebration, officials boasted often of the efforts to make itas "green" and ecologically sustainable as possible. According to the Aotearoan contractors who planned the event, the participants' feather-coated costumes - a must for the Birdman festival - required far more plumage than what Henua could provide. The feathers they imported from New Granada are all synthetic and 100% biodegradable. The teeming crowds did not leave the usual dusting of litter when they left - a veritable army of garbage collectors circulated the entire evening to ensure that every scrap of trash was recycled. Attending the opening ceremonies were such guests as billionaire Andrew Morris of England and Kemr, King Nikolai of O'ahu, and the Emperor and Empress of Greece, who are honeymooning on Henua. The festival will continue for two weeks and will center on athletics - not only the death-defying Birdman race to the islet of Motu Nui, but other racing, swimming, and sporting contests as well. 4 September 2008 Easter Island Bicentenniel begins with diplomacy (IBAP/EET) Foreign ministers from the world's tiniest countries converged on Henua Thursday for a conference of the Commission on Very Small States. The Commission, a committee of the League of Nations with a habit of meeting everywhere but League headquarters, includes a broad assortment of diminutive nations and nation-like entities from Pacific islands to European principalities to autonomous units of Irish-occupied Florida. The meeting directly precedes Henua's 200th anniversary celebration, scheduled to begin Saturday with a large gathering near the ceremonial center of Orongo. The representatives of the Very Small States were treated to an exclusive dress rehearsal by some of the bicentenniel's performing groups before heading to the conference at Hanga Roa. Appearing at the meeting was Greek Emperor Konstantinos, who took some time away from his honeymoon at the far end of the island to speak to the gathered diplomats. The primary concern at the meeting, according to an aide to the Monegasque delegate, was the fledgling Republic of Tokelau, scheduled to hold a referendum next month over whether to transfer its sovereignty from its overlord nation of Fiji to an English tycoon, Mr. Andrew Morris. The proposed transfer is highly controversial both on Henua and among other CVSS members. Morris, who was at the conference, received a steady grilling from sveral of the gathered diplomats. Tokelau's Chief Luk Havaiki and Foreign Minister Aufai Tuia were also present to defend their agreement with Morris. 1 September 2008 Imperial newlyweds arrive on Henua (PUNA) A sizeable crowd of foreign tourists, journalists, and curious locals gathered at Mataveri International Aerodrome to welcome Konstantinos XII, newly crowned Emperor of Greece, to Te Pito o te Henua. Konstantinos and his new wife, the Empress Alexandra, Duchess of Sparta, are capping off a month-long world tour with a honeymoon in the island kingdom. The excursion to Henua, supposed to be a secret, has been common knowledge on Henua for long enough to draw reporters and photographers from news outlets across the Pacific Rim hoping to get a glimpse of the glamorous, free-spending, and, by universal consensus, eminently attractive imperial couple. The Emperor, famously fond of the press, spoke with reporters a few moments after being greeted by King Nga'ara and Queen Mahani and boarding a car to the royal capital, Anakena. There the King presented the Emperor with a finely engraved mata'a blade - Konstantinos is known as a collector of rare weapons - and a five-foot tuff moai by artist Torometi Teave depicting Poseidon, classical Greek god of the sea. The moai, done in a daringly progressive style with elements evoking Greek statuary, has been on display at Torometi's studio in Hangaroa for two weeks. Its subject matter first led Henua to speculate on the Emperor's arrival before it was officially announced. Konstantinos reciprocated with a few art pieces from his country, namely a modern abstract sculpture, a Christian icon, and a rare statue from ancient Corinth. The Emperor and Empress then left for their vacation residence, a chalet on state property at Matariki, on the out-of-the way, densely forested northern slope of Mount Terevaka. The location, like the couple's arrival itself, has been an ill-kept secret for over a week. A force of Nga'ara's own bodyguards will ensure tight security on the compoound for the duration of the imperial visit. Konstantinos has indicated that while his and his wife's trip is in every respect a private one, he hopes that Greece and Henua can begin a friendly relationship after he departs two weeks from now. His visit coincides with Henua's much-anticipated bicentenniel festival, where the Emperor will no doubt be the most famous foreign guest. 1 July 2008 Lukas: Henua to share in "War of the Heavens" international premiere (IBAP/EET) Far from the memories of men... and from almost everything else... the people of the island kingdom of Te Pito o te Henua are used to disappointment when it comes to movies. Tucked in a remote corner of the Pacific and 1200 miles away from the nearest land, they usually must wait one or even two years for films to make their way to their country, where a single studio adds subtitles and sells them to various local businesses that show them in small public theatres. But this year, as part of his bid to bring unprecedented global exposure to his long-awaited film, American director-guru George Lukas has announced that the new installment of War in the Heavens will open simultaneously across the world, and that Henua will share in the international cinematic event. The "WITH" franchise, known locally as Tau'a i te Rangi, holds a special place on Henua, where back in 1990, the third film, Ho'ona Ma'ehha (Bright Revenge), became the first film ever shown on the island with subtitles in the native script. The Hangaroa Movie Studio acquired the first two films soon after, and the next two sequels proved wildly popular as well. Revivals of the five space opera movies still draw full houses across the island. The opening of Teata Tonga - that's Winter White - after a decade of waiting is expected to draw still more. The owner of Henua's subtitling studio, Pokitani Ure, contacted Lukas's company a year ago when rumors of a worldwide release first began to circulate. The film company, Metropolitan Moving Pictures, was receptive to the idea of a premiere in the world's remotest country. A script and a copy of the new sequel arrived at the island soon after, and Pokitani and two or three staffers began work on their translation. Under the terms of their contract with MMP, they had to keep their work, the plot of the movie, and even the news of a Henua release a secret until Lukas's announcement this week. Doing this was quite a feat on Henua, where rumors can spread like a "dance of light and darkness" described in the movies. "Every day was a struggle against the urge to tell somebody - anybody - what we were doing," says Pokitani Peripe, a relative who helped with the subtitling work. The announcement of the premiere has caused a stir like few on Henua can remember. A special outdoor space is being prepared to host what may be a majority of the country's population on the night of the release. "I'll be there. I've been waiting ten years for this," says one fan in the capital, Hangaroa. "Henua has never been honored in this way. Most people have never heard of us. I'm so thankful to Lukas for this." Henua's newly elected head of government, Chief Adviser Kupenga Tuki, is an admitted fan. "I don't know what is more exciting, this news or the 200th anniversary coming up in September. This is definitely an exciting year for Henua." He added, "I look forward to watching." The premiere will be held on the fifteenth of August. Several sites have been mentioned, but most intriguing is the natural hollow of Rano Raraku, the famed "statue graveyard" full of moai statues abandoned in the 16th century. 6 June 2008 Henua elects new head of government (IBAP/EET) In its first session since the election two weeks ago, Henua's Council of Advisers, which acts as its Parliament, chose a new Chief Adviser on Friday. Rano'ika Pa'oa, the island's first woman Chief Advisor for six years, has been replaced by Kupenga Tuki, a younger man just re-elected for his second three-year term on the Council. Chief Advisers are elected annually. The vote is seen as a victory for Henua's King Nga'ara III, who lost a major power struggle with Rano'ika last year when she fought his initiative to create an Ecotopic Park from clan-controlled land at the island's northern end. Adviser Kupenga, who had never announced any desire for the Council's top position, is considered an ally of the ecology movement and a clost friend of the king. After the vote was taken, the Council and King promptly changed into traditional costumes and marched to Orongo, the island's ceremonial capital, for a swearing-in ceremony. Since his election came as a surprise, Kupenga told reporters that he needs to work to develop a formal policy agenda, but he said that the island's ecology would definitely be a priority. Kupenga will also bear the burden of leading Henua through the most ambitious ceremony in its history, its upcoming bicentenniel celebration, expected to draw unprecedented numbers of foreign dignitaries and tourists. All nations that maintain regular diplomatic relations with Henua, including Japan, Scandinavia, Castile, Oregon, and Australasia, extended their congratulations to the island's new leader. 22 May 2008 Ma'oa re-elected, three others unseated; Rano'ika in danger (PUNA) The votes are counted, and the new Council of Advisers is ready to begin its work. In a result unsurprising to those who have followed recent gossip, Justice Adviser Ma'oa Peteru has kept his seat by a wide margin. Some wondered whether his eccentric statements in recent weeks would jeopardize his position, but they seem to have made him all the more popular with voters. Chief Adviser Rano'ika Pa'oa, on the other hand, has reason to be nervous. Three Advisers have lost their seats, all of them allies of hers. Advisers Pakarati, Aka and Tavake have been replaced by the new Advisers Rangitea, Ave, and Kio, the last of which has served as Adviser twice before. All three are noted royalists who have accused Rano'ika and her allies on the Council of disloyalty to Te Ariki Henua during their dispute over establishing an Ecotopic Park last year. The three new Advisers, and the four who were re-elected, jointly announced a celebretory feast to be held on Saturday. Adviser Pakarati told PUNA that he will "eat and drink as much as possible". 21 May 2008 Tokelau's Shame (Te Vaka Ama editorial, released through PUNA) Tokelau has shamed the Pacific. Yesterday the news arrived that their elders and elected leaders, charged with maintaining the island's traditions and protecting the land, agreed to solve their nation's economic woes by selling all four islands to a European investor. This decision is not just a blow to the pride of the Tokelauans, but a threat to the independence and self-reliance of all the peoples of all our islands. We should have learned this lesson two centuries ago. When first confronted on the beaches with strangers from Hiva, in large ships laden with unfamiliar tools and weapons, many of our ancestors chose to sell their sacred bodies-- or in the case of men, the bodies of their sisters and daughters-- to the appetites of the sailors like a boatload of pineapples. The men from Europe, from Asia, from America, habitually treated everything as a commodity, women's bodies not least of all. But to our ancestors, this was a new, unprecedented, horrifying sort of trade. On island after island, our ancestors took the same fateful step in order to gain favor, protection, trade goods, political leverage. And in doing so they opened our islands to a system whose oppressive legacy has not fully been erased. For the visitors were not as respectful toward their new purchases as we had assumed they would be. Our ancestors found themselves mistreated and abused. Marriage vows and children, meaningless to the the visitors, were ignored and discarded. Tokelau's elders have committed the same crime against their people as their ancestors, only this time, it is much more grievous. It is not just their daughters that they have sold as commodities: it is the whole of their land. The four islands that sustain their lives, the gifts of the Creator, their people's inheritance from the beginning of time, has been sold to another European visitor, standing on that same beach: Andrew Morris of England. Morris collects islands like others might collect shells; he already has a sizeable stash in Europe and the Caribbean. The four islands of Tokelau are but his latest acquisition. Morris has promised to develop his new estate in a way that respects both the environment and the people. We shall see. He has promised that his company and the Tokelauans will be "partners," and that local government will remain in traditional hands. We shall see. But Tokelau's leaders have steered a course that is foolish and disrespectful at best, calamitous at worst. For from now on, the lands of the Pacific, Nga Henua to Polynesians, Na Vanua to Melanesians, life-giving and sustaining to all, are no longer the indivisible bodies of the people. They have become like everything else to Westerners: moveable property, something to hold onto and discard once profits grow a little lean. Let us pray that the people of Tokelau reject this unwise business transaction. Our ocean's dignity and freedom may depend on it. 19 May 2008 Election concludes with high turnout (PUNA) Election-time theatrics paid off today as tuhunga ta came out in higher-than-expected numbers to cast their votes on the seven Council seats set to expire at the end of the month. Pleasant weather, a particularly lively campaign season, and the prominence of several important issues at stake all contributed to draw nearly six thousand voters under election awnings at ten locations around Henua. Adviser Rapahanga Keva, Election Adviser this year in addition to his normal post as Adviser of Agriculture, estimates that his office will be busy counting the ballots for the next three days, adding that counting six thousand ballots with seven votes on each may take even longer for his small band of hirees. 10 May 2008 Election Season on Henua (IBAP/EET) With elections to Henua's legislature, the Council of Advisers, just over a week away, a festival atmosphere inundates the island kingdom as candidates compete for voters' attention. Amid the excitement of speeches, barbecues, and sporting competitions put on by Advisers whose three-year terms have expired and the men and women who wish to succeed them, genuine questions are being asked on a variety of issues rangning from the constitutional role of the King to the creation of an independent judiciary. "Most of us still act like we choose our leaders by making them race to Motu Nui," says Council hopeful Rangitea Pa'enga, a bit hassled and out of breath as she tends to the details of her campaign event on the beach at Akahanga. Trying to listen over the sounds of an energetic whummlin tournament and breathing in the aroma of three roasting pigs, it is easy to agree with her comparison to Henua's ancient Birdman competition, the dangerous swimming race once used to pick the island's annual leader, today held every spring for its own sake. Seven of Henua's 21 Advisers are elected each year. All are elected at-large rather than from election ridings, so every candidate makes a great effort to gain visibility to all of Henua's 10,000 citizens. So far, this election has seen the normal sorts of boisterous rowdiness, but many years campaign antics verge on the ridiculous. "Do you see those turbines out at sea?" asks Adviser Kupenga Tuki at a re-election barbecue of his own. "When I was first elected six years ago, my brother and I hung a banner between them that said 'Kupenga supports wind power'. I had to pay a fine. But I won the election." Audacious electoral stunts are about more than visibility, however. On an island where the concept of mana-- the spiritual quality that empowers people to act and lead-- still governs political life, such acts can convince the voters of a candidate's worthiness more than any amount of speeches and opinions. Holding a rally, sponsoring a tournament, and trespassing on state windmills are all shows of mana that can lead to victory... at least, that is the candidates' hope. Causing by far the most political debate is the re-election campaign of Ma'oa Petero, outspoken Justice Adviser. For some weeks he has been campaigning on the issue of establishing an independent judiciary, something utterly foreign to Henua's clan-based justice system. "We right now have a system where the chiefs promise to administer justice under our laws, with the Council only occasionally holding them to it," says Ma'oa during a welcome break from his busy schedule of rallies and Council meetings. "Meanwhile, my own advisorate is swamped with cases that we have to hear. If there is one thing we need to do to ensure a smooth festival, it is to clean up the way we enforce our laws," Ma'oa says, referring to the bicentenniel celebration planned for September. Meanwhile, the long power struggle between King Nga'ara III and Chief Adviser Rano'ika Pa'oa continues to play out as candidates question one another's loyalty to king and country. Rano'ika led the movement that successfully killed Nga'ara's attempt to establish an Ecotopic Park on the island under Oregonian supervision. Although her supporter say they opposed the King to prevent unnecessary foreign meddling, challenger candidates are using the affair to accuse sitting Advisers of disloyalty. Rano'ika is not up for re-election, but could lose her position as head of government, which is chosen annnually by Council vote shortly after the election. Nga'ara himself, politically weak since losing face to Rano'ika, has avoided supporting any candidates. He has made vague remarks asserting his own right to make foreign policy. He has not, however, joined in the campaigning-- but with over a week left in Henua's madcap political process, anything is possible. 16 April 2008 Kulju placed in Scandinavian custody (PUNA) After a short trial in the Council House, Marko Kulju was fined and released into the custody of the Scandinavian charge d'affaires, bringing an end to three weeks of indecision over how to handle his case. The hour-long trial before a large crowd was spent mostly on the formalities of naming the charges and paying due homage to Te Ariki Henua [Nga'ara III], who presided over the trial. Once it was underway, Kulju freely confessed to all charges, bringing the affair to a speedy end. The king and council took much more time to decide upon Kulju's sentence behind closed doors. After three hours of discussion, they announced that he must pay one* for the estimated restoration of the statue, plus a punitive fine of six mo'ai**. In addition, he will be placed under "house arrest" in the Scandinavian consulate for six months and is banned from visiting Henua for five years. The Scandinavian consulate covered his fine for the time being, but Kulju will have to pay the Scandinavian government once he is home in Finland. Despite the apparently stiff punishment, Te Ariki Henua said as part of the sentencing statement that Kulju was receiving "a lenient penalty" because of his "honest and open confession." Kulju gave PUNA only a very brief interview once back in the consulate, but said, "I don't know if I'll come back after the five years. I'm not sure I'd be welcome. Right now I just want to go home." Justice Advisor Ma'oa Petero was more eager to speak with reporters. Advisor Ma'oa, one of the seven 'Atua Hatu up for reelection this May, took the opportunity to tout his plan for reforming Henua's legal system. He said, "I have been Justice Advisor for three years, and for three years the Council has rejected every attempt I have made to change our trial system. If this ordeal has taught us anything, it is that we urgently need to enact a solution, and quickly! The clans are ancient and sacred, the foundation of our society, but the justice they deal out is inconsistent and is not fit for today's world. This case proves that beyond a doubt." Te Ariki Henua, in keeping with his general attitude in recent months, would not comment on the issue of judicial reform. He did, however, tell reporters that he "was glad to be at the head of the judicial process," adding, "If I hadn't been there, I am sure Advisor Ma'oa would have had everyone voting to cut the man's ear off." *1mo'ai = 1400 lo, 280 Commonwealth pounds, or $1120 Oregonian **6 mo'ai = 8400 lo, 1680 Commonwealth pounds, or $6720 Oregonian --IBAP/EET 10 April 2008 Henua Council to hear trial of Finn moai vandal (IBAP/EET) A Finnish man who has confessed to defacing one of Henua's ancient moai statues in order to steal part of its ear will face an unprecedented trial before the island's legislature, the Council of Advisors. The Council has spent over a week debating the finer points of Henua law, which makes few clear provisions for trying non-citizens accused of crimes on the remote Pacific island. Since the accused, Marko Kulju of Turku, Finland, apparently falls under no other jurisdiction-- and with pressure mounting from foreign businesses and the Scandinavian government to reach a speedy conclusion-- the Council has agreed to act as a judicial body, which it normally does only in the case of disputes between Henua clans. The act, passed today by the council, does not specify a trial date. Henua's King Nga'ara III presides over the council when it acts as a judiciary body, so his approval is necessary. 4 April 2008 Aotearoan event planners lobby Henua Council for judicial reform (IBAP/EET) Representatives from Haukai Poronihia, the Aotearoan company in charge of planning Henua's bicentenniel this coming September, spoke to the Council of Advisors Friday urging it to make swift and sweeping reforms to its legal system to clarify the rights and legal processes of foreigners accused of crimes on the island. The company was responding to the arrest last week of Finnish tourist Marko Kulju for defacing and attempting to steal the earlobe of a sacred moai statue at Anakena beach. Kelju has been held in the Anakena jail since his arrest, but his fate remains uncertain-- Henua law makes few clear provisions for serious crimes committed by foreigners in peacetime. Wirimu Karena, Haukai Poronihia's event chief for the Henua festival, addressed the Council through a translator: "In less than five months, if all goes well, this island will host more foreigners than have ever come before. Some will no doubt tried to take pieces from many statues. Others will try to behave in an unruly fashion, as always happens when large groups of people gather together. Does the Council know how they will be dealt with? If the festival is to go smoothly, these legal questions must be settled-- and the visitors must feel secure that they will not have to leave their own ears behind on the island." Karena alluded to a statement by Justice Advisor Ma'oa Petero last week-- which he has since dismissed as a joke-- which advocated inflicting physical punishment upon Kulju's ear. Currently, justice for Henua people is still managed by the individual clans. Disputes between clans are heard by the Council itself. The Court of Ngangata Hiva exists to hear crimes committed by foreigners and resident aliens, but its jusisdiction is limited. Immigrants seeking citizenship are handled on an inconsistent, case-by-case basis, with some immigrants actually joining one of the seven clans and others remaining under the jurisdiction of the Ngangata Hiva court. With the Council's annual election just over a month away, Advisors are choosing their positions carefully on this issue, which touches a number of longstanding and unresolved issues including tourism, immigration, and clarification of the role of the Council itself. The Council voted to instruct the instruct the Justice Advisorate to look into the matter. 1 April 2008 Finnish vandal confesses; Scandinavian consul urges speedy trial (PUNA) Maria Carlson, the Scandinavian consul in Henua, met with Marko Kulju Tuesday and reported that he admits to defacing and attempting to steal the ear of a mo'ai statue on Henua's sacred Anakena beach. "He's really down about the whole thing," Carlson told reporters. "He called it the worst mistake of his life. He's willing to pay whatever fine Henua imposes on him, but he also wants to go home." Carlson also spoke with Henua Justice advisor Ma'oa Petero urging him to bring Kulju to a quick and fair trial. Ma'oa assured her that the Henua Council of Advisors is working toward a solution to the matter-- and he assured her that his comments last week, which seemed to advocate cutting off Kulju's ear as ounishment, were said in jest. Carlson told PUNA reporters that the Scandndinavian Realm's Minister Resident in Tahiti, who also acts as charge d'affaires to Henua, will be arriving soon and will likely stay until Kulju's situation is resolved. 27 March 2008 Advisor Ma'oa calls for "an ear for an ear" justice (PUNA) Justice Advisor Ma'oa Petero told reporters Thursday that the Scandinavian tourist accused of ripping an earlobe from Mo'ai Maheke should be punished harshly. "If an ear gets cut off, then an ear gets cut,' Ma'oa said in an interview. "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth and an ear for an ear-- this is justice for people who think they can come here and destroy parts of our culture." The Scandinavian, Marko Kulju, is being held in Hanga Roa with no established trial date. 26 March 2008 Scandinavian tourist arrested for defacing mo'ai (PUNA) Police have detained a Scandinavian tourist accused of chipping away nd intending to steal an earlobe from a sacred mo'ai at Anakena. Marko Kulju, from Turku in the Scandinavian Grand Principality of Finland, reportedly chipped the earlobe off of Mo'ai Maheke, a freestanding statue depicting a royal ancestor of Clan Miru. According to police, a woman saw Kulju break the lobe off the statue with his hands, whereupon it fell to the ground and broke into several foot-long fragments. Police say they found him attempting to walk away with one of the pieces. Kulju is being held in the municipal jail in Hanga Roa. The method of his trial and sentencing is uncertain, as Henua law makes few clear provisions for serious crimes committed by foreigners during peacetime. 13 March 2008 IBAP team partners with Henua branch of PUNA The Environmental Expeditionary Team, in its role as journalistic partner of IBAP, is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Henua branch of the Polynesian United News gency, a Toga-based company with affiliates in most Polynesian nations. Henua's PUNA affiliate, which receives government funding, is the Paciifc's main source of news from the island kingdom. It is hoped that this partnership will allow important news from Henua to reach a greater worldwide audience. 10 March 2008 Blessings given to wind turbines at coffee co-op An ivi atua and a Catholic priest were on hand at dawn on Monday to bless the activation of two wind generators belonging to Henua's coffee-growing cooperative, Kiutukumiai o Tu'u. The co-op is also known as KiTu and is best known as the grower of Kave Rapa Nui brand coffee. The ivi atua, a member of Henua's topmost pagan priestly order, invoked the wind deities Tare and Mareioreio as the turbines, the latest additions to Henua's growing wind power network, began to spin and light up strings of outdoor lanterns. The co-op was able to purchase the Nea Illenician-made turbines thanks to last year's lucrative contract with the fast-growing Oregonian kissaten chain, the Pequod Coffee Company. Kave Rapa Nui has been sold in some Pequod kissatens since January, the first time the specialty brand has been sold outside its usual market in South America. The turbines are built at the center of the co-op's land on Mount Tu'u, Henua's fourth-tallest peak. Henua has been blessed with strong winds year round, and the tops of its hills are particularly suited for wind-driven generation of electricity. Besides providing power to the co-op's facilities and its members' homes, the turbines will enable KiTu to sell surplus power to its neighbors, providing another source of income. The ivi atua, Ave He, read a chant from an antique tablet written in Henua's elaborate old form of writing, invoking the deities of the wind and Mount Tu'u before improvising his own prayer that the wind spirits might bring various calamities upon KiTu's South American competitors, including impotence and stomach flu. The prayer drew chuckles from the onlookers, a blend of the reverent, the competitive, and the tongue-in-cheek that nicely reflected the Henua spirit. The priest, Fr. Rapahango Itai'a, delivered a somewhat more dignified blessing for the Christians in attendance. Edith Watanabe, acting chief of Oregon's Environmental Expeditionary Team on the island, did not attend the ceremony but did take a tour of the small facility afterward. She praised the co-op's efforts at clean energy, saying, "This is a great step forward for Henua's ongoing aeolification. Private groups are so important to the process, and KiTu's made itself an example for others to follow." 3 March 2008 Errata IBAP reported Monday that Henua was the first nation to recognize the new provisional government of the Tokelau Islands. It has since come to light that the Parliament of Nauru extended recognition to Tokelau on Sunday. Nauru is one of Tokelau's nearer neighbors, less than 2000 miles distant from the contested islands. 1 March 2008 Henua Council first to recognize Tokelauan government The Council of Advisors on Easter Island, or Henua, voted unanimously today to recognize the Tokelau Islands' new provisional government, announced last Friday despite the objections of Tokelau's ruling nation, Fiji. Henua is the first nation to recognize the Tokelauans' unilateral move in the direction of independence. When the Tokelauan people voted for eventual independence last October, King Nga'ara III congratulated them in a special ceremony at Orongo. Today, however, the acclaim was more modest. Nga'ara gave a short speech in the Council House in Hanga Roa echoing the words of the Council resolution. "Today the Advisers have declared Henua's support and blessings to our brothers and sisters in Tokelau as they exercise their right to determine their own future," Nga'ara said. "I cannot agree more with these sentiments. And I urge the rest of the Austronesian League to meet as soon as possible, so together we can urge the Fijian government to respect the will of its people." 21 January 2008 Aotearoan company hired to plan Henua bicentenniel Henua's Council of Advisors today approved a motion by Tourism Advisor Fati Tea'o to hire Haukai Poronihia, an Aotearoan event planning company, to manage the island's bicentenniel celebrations this coming September. Some Atua Hatu, or Council members, expressed disapproval at the idea that the festival, expected to be the biggest in Henua history, should be organized by a foreign for-profit company. Advisor Fati assured the Council that "the creative and artistic aspects of the festival will come from Henua. Much of the actual work of the festival will be done by Henua businesses. But we need these Aotearonan experts to manage the budgeting and organizational aspects." When asked why the Tourism Advisorate itself could not manage the bicentenniel, Fati cited overwork. Henua's Council of Advisors acts as both a parliament and cabinet, and each advisor must serve on several Advisorates, which function as both legislative committees and executive ministries. "A small nation like us would need outside help in the best of times when planning something as big as this festival," he told an EET interviewer. "But we Henua ask so much of our Atua Hatu, it would be very difficult for any of us to devote our time to this kind of task. It is another sign to Henua that we must expand the size of the Council." The Council has had a constant 21 members since shortly after the establishment of the current constitution in 1808. The bicentenniel celebration will commemorate the Agreement of the Seven Chiefs, a revolutionary decision by the heads of Henua's clans in 1808 to share political power. Although the actual Agreement was likely made in wintertime, the bicentenniel celebration will happen in the early spring, mid-September, to correspond with Henua's most important annual festival, the famous Birdman competition. The festival this year is expected to draw tourists from across the Pacific and beyond. Henua's Council expects it to give a boost to the island's already-thriving tourist economy. Although many of the details have yet to be planned, the celebration will include the unveiling of a new moai statue, the first one to be built since the coronation feast of King Nga'ara in 1996. |
| Last updated 26 March 2009 by Ben Karnell |