Easter Island Mayor Opposes Return of Moai Statues to Rapa Nui

Amid a viral campaign for their return, the mayor emphasizes the statues' role as cultural ambassadors in the British Museum.

Easter Island Mayor Pedro Edmunds Paoa rejects calls for the return of moai statues, backed by Chile's president, to Rapa Nui, advocating for their role as cultural ambassadors.
The British Museum faces a social media campaign, initiated by Chilean activists and a Haitian rapper, demanding the return of the statues.
The museum temporarily disabled comments on its social media due to the influx of demands for the statues' return.
Easter Island's council of elders seeks to negotiate the statues' ownership acknowledgment with the British Museum, rather than their return.
The mayor calls for respectful dialogue and opposes the politicization of the statues, emphasizing their importance in promoting Rapa Nui culture.