Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUENOSAIRES2847
2006-12-29 18:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:
HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY IN ARGENTINA; ECUADOR; 12/29/06
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHBU #2847 3631824 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 291824Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6890 INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2// RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002847
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC,
WHA/EPSC
CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY IN ARGENTINA; ECUADOR; 12/29/06
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002847
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC,
WHA/EPSC
CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY IN ARGENTINA; ECUADOR; 12/29/06
1. SUMMARY STATEMENT
Most local papers extensively report on Argentine President Nestor
Kirchner coordinating a manhunt for a human rights witness, who went
missing on Wednesday after accusing last year former police officer
Luis Patti of torturing him in 1972. Local dailies highlight that
authorities are still looking for another human rights witness who
disappeared more than three months ago. Leading "Clarin" carries an
opinion piece by its political editor underscoring that "the case
poses a challenge and inflicts an offense on the Government and the
entire society."
2. OPINION PIECES
- "A gloomy challenge is posed to (Argentina's) Government and its
entire society"
Julio Blanck, political columnist of leading "Clarin," writes
(12/29) "When Julio Lopez disappeared, there were hesitations and
conspiracy theories about the reasons - some unbelievable theories
shifted the blame on the victim. One hundred days have passed since
then and there is no news about Lopez... With the disappearance of
Luis Gerez, President Kirchner, Governor Sola and Minister Anibal
Fernandez were soon notified, and everyone turned to one direction
- that of a kidnapping.
"The fact that Gerez was a follower of Kirchner and was attending a
political meeting when kidnapped contributed (to the immediate
awareness by the Government that he had been kidnapped). We should
not disregard the fact that kidnappers acted under those
circumstances with the purpose of intensifying the feeling that
three decades away from the latest military dictatorship, the
'inhabitants' of that 'gloominess' can go unpunished today. This is
the overwhelming message conveyed by Gerez's disappearance, witness
testifying against former police officer Luis Patti...
"The message hits the Government. It is a major test to the chore of
its human rights policy which along with the performance of the
economy makes up the cornerstone of Kirchner's success. But it would
be stupid to understand this as a political arm-wrestling... between
the leftovers of State terrorism and the current government.
"... Authorities are responsible for the resolution of the case...
However, the case poses a challenge and inflicts an offense on the
entire society... As never before, staying indifferent now is a way
of taking sides."
- "An acid test for Ecuador"
Leading "Clarin" carries an op-ed piece by Hector Rubini, an
economist and professor at Universidad Argentina de la Empresa and
Nacional University of General Sarmiento, who writes (12/29) "On
January 15, Rafael Correa will take over as President of Ecuador. He
will find it hard to put the country on the right track. The reasons
why Ecuador lost its direction are not easy to understand.
"... Correa's first months of government will be an acid test for
him - he will attempt to call a Constituent Assembly and establish a
foreign policy that is far from Washington, which will not be easy.
"Nonetheless, the real challenge will be to revisit the State and
struggle against corruption. On the domestic front, he will have to
abide by the main principle of the indigenous culture 'you should
not steal, lie or beg? loaf.' On the economic front, the main social
claim is related to preserving stability, creating jobs, eradicating
poverty and recovering the 'culture' of lending.
"... Not few people bet on (Correa's) failure, but this would imply
the regrettable return of well-known politicians who have ruined
Ecuador.
"The focus of attention is not 'to dollarize or not to do it.' but
rather the eradication of demagogy, bribery and corruption. It will
not be easy, but with almost 50 percent of Ecuadorians underemployed
and with claims of all kinds, (Correa) will have to give out a clear
sign right from his first day in office."
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires
WAYNE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC,
WHA/EPSC
CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY IN ARGENTINA; ECUADOR; 12/29/06
1. SUMMARY STATEMENT
Most local papers extensively report on Argentine President Nestor
Kirchner coordinating a manhunt for a human rights witness, who went
missing on Wednesday after accusing last year former police officer
Luis Patti of torturing him in 1972. Local dailies highlight that
authorities are still looking for another human rights witness who
disappeared more than three months ago. Leading "Clarin" carries an
opinion piece by its political editor underscoring that "the case
poses a challenge and inflicts an offense on the Government and the
entire society."
2. OPINION PIECES
- "A gloomy challenge is posed to (Argentina's) Government and its
entire society"
Julio Blanck, political columnist of leading "Clarin," writes
(12/29) "When Julio Lopez disappeared, there were hesitations and
conspiracy theories about the reasons - some unbelievable theories
shifted the blame on the victim. One hundred days have passed since
then and there is no news about Lopez... With the disappearance of
Luis Gerez, President Kirchner, Governor Sola and Minister Anibal
Fernandez were soon notified, and everyone turned to one direction
- that of a kidnapping.
"The fact that Gerez was a follower of Kirchner and was attending a
political meeting when kidnapped contributed (to the immediate
awareness by the Government that he had been kidnapped). We should
not disregard the fact that kidnappers acted under those
circumstances with the purpose of intensifying the feeling that
three decades away from the latest military dictatorship, the
'inhabitants' of that 'gloominess' can go unpunished today. This is
the overwhelming message conveyed by Gerez's disappearance, witness
testifying against former police officer Luis Patti...
"The message hits the Government. It is a major test to the chore of
its human rights policy which along with the performance of the
economy makes up the cornerstone of Kirchner's success. But it would
be stupid to understand this as a political arm-wrestling... between
the leftovers of State terrorism and the current government.
"... Authorities are responsible for the resolution of the case...
However, the case poses a challenge and inflicts an offense on the
entire society... As never before, staying indifferent now is a way
of taking sides."
- "An acid test for Ecuador"
Leading "Clarin" carries an op-ed piece by Hector Rubini, an
economist and professor at Universidad Argentina de la Empresa and
Nacional University of General Sarmiento, who writes (12/29) "On
January 15, Rafael Correa will take over as President of Ecuador. He
will find it hard to put the country on the right track. The reasons
why Ecuador lost its direction are not easy to understand.
"... Correa's first months of government will be an acid test for
him - he will attempt to call a Constituent Assembly and establish a
foreign policy that is far from Washington, which will not be easy.
"Nonetheless, the real challenge will be to revisit the State and
struggle against corruption. On the domestic front, he will have to
abide by the main principle of the indigenous culture 'you should
not steal, lie or beg? loaf.' On the economic front, the main social
claim is related to preserving stability, creating jobs, eradicating
poverty and recovering the 'culture' of lending.
"... Not few people bet on (Correa's) failure, but this would imply
the regrettable return of well-known politicians who have ruined
Ecuador.
"The focus of attention is not 'to dollarize or not to do it.' but
rather the eradication of demagogy, bribery and corruption. It will
not be easy, but with almost 50 percent of Ecuadorians underemployed
and with claims of all kinds, (Correa) will have to give out a clear
sign right from his first day in office."
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our
classified website at:
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires
WAYNE