CHILE MEDIA REPORT - NOVEMBER 14

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001008 SIPDIS STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV OPRC PREL PGOV CI SUBJECT: CHILE MEDIA REPORT - NOVEMBER 14 FRONT PAGE NEWS -------------- ¶1. THE HEALTH MINISTRY INFORMED THAT THE OFFICIAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR HIV BUT HAVE NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THEIR STATUS BY THE RESPECTIVE HOSPITALS IS 512; THE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS (MOP) NATIONAL HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR AND OTHER MOP OFFICIALS WERE ARRESTED YESTERDAY IN CONNECTION TO AN INVESTIGATION OF A $5 BILLION-PESO FRAUD. U.S.-RELATED NEWS -------------- ¶2. JUDGE ELIANA QUEZADA ISSUED A REQUEST TO QUESTION FORMER NAVY AGENT OSCAR CORREA WHO NOW RESIDES IN THE UNITED STATES. THE JUDGE WANTS TO DETERMINE THE PARTICIPATION OF NAVAL FISCAL ENRIQUE MOLINA IN DETENTION CENTERS DURING THE MILITARY REGIME. THE INVESTIGATION HAS SHOWN THAT MOLINA NOT ONLY DIRECTED THE ACTIONS OF A SPECIAL TEAM AT THESE CENTERS, BUT ALSO WITNESSED TORTURE SESSIONS (LA NACION, GOVERNMENT-OWNED, EDITORIALLY INDEPENDENT, CIRC. 4,200). ¶3. RUMORS ARE THAT BARACK OBAMA COULD APPOINT ROBERT KENNEDY, JR., HEAD OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA). KENNEDY HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEVERAL HYDROELECTRIC PLANTS -- THE HYDROAYSEN PROJECT -- IN SOUTHERN CHILE AND HIS APPOINTMENT COULD RESULT IN STRONGER WHITE HOUSE INFLUENCE ON THIS SUBJECT. (QUE PASA MAGAZINE, CONSERVATIVE NEWS WEEKLY, CIRC. 101,000). ¶4. ARTICLE BY CHILEAN AMBASSADOR TO UNITED NATIONS, HERALDO MUNOZ: "AMERICANS MADE HISTORY ON NOVEMBER 4.... HE (OBAMA) WON NOT JUST BECAUSE HE WAS THE CANDIDATE OF AFRO- AMERICANS, BUT BECAUSE HE REPRESENTS THE 'YOUTUBE' GENERATION, LATINOS, THOSE WHO OPPOSE THE WAR IN IRAQ, THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED FROM THE MORTGAGE CRISIS, THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE GOOD MEDICAL INSURANCE, AND THOSE WHO ASPIRE TO MORE AND BETTER OPPORTUNITIES.... OBAMA'S 'HONEYMOON' WITH THE WORLD WILL BE LONG, BECAUSE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY... WAS HOPING TO SEE IN THE WHITE HOUSE A PRESIDENT WITH THE ABILITY TO PERCEIVE GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES RATHER THAN JUST THREATS AND ONE WHO UNDERSTOOD THAT WE LIVE IN A INTERDEPENDENT WORLD WHERE MAJOR CHALLENGES... CAN ONLY BE RESOLVED THROUGH COOPERATION AND MULTILATERAL NEGOTIATION." (CAPITAL MAGAZINE, MONTHLY BUSINESS PUBLICATION, CIRC. 18,000). ¶5. COLUMN BY DEFENSE JOURNALIST RAUL SOHR, "THE CLOSING OF GUANTANAMO MARKS THE END OF A CYCLE OF ABUSE." "ONE OF THE FIRST PROMISES THAT BARACK OBAMA WILL FULFILL WHEN HE TAKES OFFICE WILL BE TO CLOSE GUANTANAMO. HE WILL ALSO CLOSE THE CIA'S SECRET PRISONS.... THIS WILL BE THE END OF MANY VIOLATIONS COMMITTED DURING GEORGE W. BUSH'S EIGHT YEARS IN OFFICE.... TODAY, SEVEN YEARS LATER... OBAMA PROMISES TO CONCLUDE ONE OF THE MOST DEGRADING PERIODS OF U.S. HISTORY AND ONE WHICH DIMINISHED THE MORAL STATURE OF THE UNITED STATES." (LA NACION) REGIONAL AFFAIRS -------------- ¶6. PRESIDENT MICHELE BACHELET MET YESTERDAY WITH FORMER ARGENTINE PRESIDENT NESTOR KIRCHNER. THE MEETING OCCURS AMID THE PROBLEMS THAT THE UNION OF SOUTH AMERICAN NATIONS, UNASUR, IS FACING TO FIND AN EXECUTIVE SECRETARY. ECUADOR PROPOSED KIRCHNER AND BOLIVIA PABLO SOLON, BUT NEITHER HAVE THE UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF THE 12 MEMBER-NATIONS (LA NACION). SIMONS