Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SANTIAGO1092
2006-05-23 13:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:  

CHILE: TRIPARTATE DEMARCHE ON DECLARATION ON THE

Tags:  PHUM PREL AU NZ CI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0010
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #1092 1431359
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 231359Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9201
INFO RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON PRIORITY 0051
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 0131
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 1031
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 4566
RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA PRIORITY 0224
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 0501
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0480
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0177
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 001092 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL AU NZ CI
SUBJECT: CHILE: TRIPARTATE DEMARCHE ON DECLARATION ON THE
RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

REF: STATE 78740

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Emi Yamauchi for reasons 1.4(b)
and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 001092

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL AU NZ CI
SUBJECT: CHILE: TRIPARTATE DEMARCHE ON DECLARATION ON THE
RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

REF: STATE 78740

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Emi Yamauchi for reasons 1.4(b)
and (d).


1. (C) Summary: On May 18, Deputy Chief of Mission and the
Ambassadors of New Zealand and Australia delivered reftel
demarche and background papers to Amira Esquivel, Director of
Human Rights for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Esquivel
said the GOC shared our concerns about approving such a
global document without consensus. Chile is also concerned
about provisions for self-determination and property rights,
but given domestic and international pressure regarding
indigenous rights in Chile it will be difficult for the GOC
to oppose the DRIP should it come to a vote in the UN General
Assembly. While commenting that GRULAC consensus was not as
firm as reported, Esquivel said Mexico, Guatemala and Peru's
support for DRIP complicated Chile's position. Esquivel said
the best outcome would be to extend the working group for an
additional year to allow further discussion of the final text
of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (DRIP).
End Summary.


2. (C) Ambassador Fyfe led the demarche. Esquivel, who was
accompanied by the MFA's specialist on indigenous issues,
Virginia Barahona, said Chile shared concerns about the DRIP
text and how it had been disseminated, but noted Chile faced
considerable international and domestic pressure on
indigenous rights issues. (Note: International media and
human rights groups are following the story of four
indigenous activists who are on a hunger strike protesting
their convictions under an anti-terrorist statute. End
note.) Further, last year's Chilean presidential candidate
Aucan Huilcaman, an indigenous Mapuche leader, had expressed
support for the text as it stands.


3. (C) Esquival noted the agenda for the June meeting of the
Human Rights Council (HRC) had not been set, and hoped the
text would not come to a vote there. Barahona, who attended
the GRULAC meeting at the 11th session of the Working Group
on the DRIP, said while there had been no consensus,
Guatemala, supported by Mexico and Peru, had pressed for
introducing the text in Geneva. She added that the Working
Group Chairman had not been effective in building consensus
during the group's final meeting, and it was not clear the
DRIP would obtain a majority in the HRC. Esquivel said the
GOC had not issued instructions to its delegation in Geneva,
since Chile was not on the HRC and therefor its ability to
influence the outcome was limited. Should the declaration
come to a vote in the General Assembly, Esquivel said it
would be difficult for Chile to oppose it.


4. (C) Esquivel said some countries with larger indigenous
populations were not taking seriously concerns about the
language on autonomy, reparations and property rights. She
supported further attempts to reach consensus rather than
allow a vote on a divisive text. As the meeting closed, she
suggested a meeting with the director of the National Council
on Indigenous Development (CONADI),who would also influence
the GOC's final decision about whether to support the DRIP.


5. (C) Comment: As demonstrated by Esquivel's closing
suggestion, the MFA Human Rights Department's influence is
sometimes limited. In the past, its recommendations
occasionally have been trumped by decisions taken in the
Multilateral Affairs Department. At Post's urging, New
Zealand's mission in Chile had initially requested a meeting
with Deputy Foreign Minister Alberto Van Klaveren to discuss
the issue. They were told he would not be available until
the first week in June. With reftel demarche delivered, New
Zealand will continue to pursue a meeting with Van Klaveren
as well as with the Director of CONADI. Post will follow up
on these approaches as joint efforts as per reftel.
KELLY