Santiago Nov. 5 Media Report

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001062 SIPDIS STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL SNAR EFIN CI SUBJECT: Santiago Nov. 5 Media Report U.S.-Related News ¶1. The director of the Foreign Ministry's International Economic Relations Bureau, Carlos Furche, will file next Tuesday with the Chile-U.S. Free Trade Agreement Administrator a complaint on behalf of local wood producers over the tax exemptions that U.S. cellulose producers will start receiving in 2010. These exemptions will replace a subsidy that expires on December 31 (Conservative, influential El Mercurio, 11/5). ¶2. Former Chilean Foreign Minister and Carnegie Endowment Senior Associate Alejandro Foxley comments on President Obama. "Today we see more openness, more listening and more dialogue. President Obama is making us believe that what he said every day in his campaign is possible: That we can build a bid a better country when one is set on reaching agreements.... The other night we saw him receiving the bodies of soldiers killed in Afghanistan.... He had the courage to be with their families. This gesture denotes the tough dilemma: To continue sending thousands of youths to Afghanistan or show a kindness that many would interpret as weakness" (Conservative, afternoon La Segunda, 11/4). Bombing at the Marriott ¶3. The bomb that detonated on Tuesday at the Marriott Hotel in Las Condes triggered a tightening of security measures in a dozen hotels in the same part of town. The Marriott's security manager for Latin America arrived in Santiago today to review security protocols. The investigation has established that the suspect who placed the bomb was at the Marriott a week before checking the hotel's security. The Prosecutor's Office is reviewing the surveillance tapes for the entire week (Conservative, independent La Tercera, 11/5). ¶4. An organization named after Efrain Plaza claimed responsibility for yesterday's bombing at the Marriott. On July 1912, Efrain Plaza opened fire on a crowd injuring two young men from wealthy families. He claimed he wanted to draw attention to the "selfishness of the bourgeoisie." Yesterday, the organization posted on the webpage "hommodolars contrainformacion" the following message: "Our comrades outwitted all surveillance and controls of the exploiters' ghetto in East Santiago and detonated a device.... As a sign of kindness that the exploiters lack ... we warned the (hotel) desk of the explosion fifteen minutes ahead of time so that its workers... could exit and rejoice as the Marriott blew up.... The owners of the building are solely responsible for instructing the desk not lose a minute of its work rather than evacuating the building, and of sending guards who earn a miserable salary to die" (La Nacion, 11/5). Indigenous Affairs ¶5. A group of leaders from an array of Mapuche communities and workers unions from the Region of Araucania handed President Bachelet a set of proposals to promote peace and development in the region. The document recognizes that violence in the region is not necessarily related to the indigenous demands (El Mercurio, 11/5). ¶6. The indigenous organization "Alianza Territorial," which is formed by Mapuche chiefs of the Region of Araucania, left at the Presidential Palace a letter for President Bachelet disavowing last week's denouncement that the Mapuche are using children as "human shields." The chiefs also requested the Martial Courts to appoint a civilian judge to investigate the abuses committed by the police in their raids of indigenous communities. "They break everything and do whatever they want, throwing tear gas bombs, shooting rubber bullets, and don't even show the corresponding court order," said Chief Jorge Calfuqueo (La Nacion, 11/5). Honduras. ¶7. Roberto Micheletti said he is willing to resign as head of the national unity government, said U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, member of the international Verification Committee in a press conference in Honduras yesterday. But Zelaya's people are still upset over the issue of Zelaya's reinstatement. The Foreign Minister of the deposed president, Patricia Rodas, said that they would not accept the agreement if Zelaya is not reinstated today. Secretary Solis said yesterday that while the United States believes Zelaya should be reinstated, this decision rests on the people of Honduras. At the same press conference, Rodas said, "We call on the United States not to make us believe that we have been betrayed" (La Nacion, 11/5). ¶8. Manuel Zelaya did not like Thomas Shannon's remarks, who said yesterday that the agreement to create a national unified government is "separate" from the decision regarding Zelaya's reinstatement. His remarks reveal that the United States would recognize the November 29 election, even if Zelaya is not reinstated. Zelaya was so upset with Shannon's remarks that he wrote Secretary Clinton a letter demanding a clarification on whether the United States had "changed its position on condemning the coup in Honduras" (La Segunda, 11/4). ¶9. In response to Zelaya's letter, Department of State spokesperson Ian Kelly said that Washington would hope for Zelaya's reinstatement, but underscored that from here on the solution to the crisis rests in the people of Honduras (El Mercurio, 11/5). SIMONS