Pitcairn: Rape, Empire, more
So, Steve Christian, the Mayor of Pitcairn Island, will be jailed for three years (no surprise). Christian, one of 47 descendants of the Bounty mutineers who make up the entire population of Pitcairn, will pay the price for child rape. His son, Randy Christian, will do seven years.
If you've been following the case, in which most of the adult males of the island were charged with child rape and sexual abuse, or even if you haven't, The Law Report has a fascinating program to listen to, made just a few days ago.
The Pitcairn case raises a great many fascinating issues. Not the least of these is the question of Pitcairn's status in a British Empire that it ostensibly left back on April 28, 1789 when Fletcher Christian and his followers mutinied against Captain Bligh (who later went on to be governor of my State of New South Wales, where he was mutinied against once more). As I understand it, the case will go all the way to Britain's Privy Council to settle the matter.
Another major issue arises from the fact that a few weeks ago when the lawyers and international media horde first descended on the island, the women of Pitcairn called a public meeting to say that the underage sex practices on the island were part of their traditional (Anglo-Polynesian) culture, and that they themselves did not consider it rape or child abuse.
So, Steve Christian, the Mayor of Pitcairn Island, will be jailed for three years (no surprise). Christian, one of 47 descendants of the Bounty mutineers who make up the entire population of Pitcairn, will pay the price for child rape. His son, Randy Christian, will do seven years.
If you've been following the case, in which most of the adult males of the island were charged with child rape and sexual abuse, or even if you haven't, The Law Report has a fascinating program to listen to, made just a few days ago.
The Pitcairn case raises a great many fascinating issues. Not the least of these is the question of Pitcairn's status in a British Empire that it ostensibly left back on April 28, 1789 when Fletcher Christian and his followers mutinied against Captain Bligh (who later went on to be governor of my State of New South Wales, where he was mutinied against once more). As I understand it, the case will go all the way to Britain's Privy Council to settle the matter.
Another major issue arises from the fact that a few weeks ago when the lawyers and international media horde first descended on the island, the women of Pitcairn called a public meeting to say that the underage sex practices on the island were part of their traditional (Anglo-Polynesian) culture, and that they themselves did not consider it rape or child abuse.
Pip Wilson posted item above at 5:33 PM | Permalink
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