Santiago Nov. 30 Media Report

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001154 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. 30 Media Report Chile-U.S. ¶1. Just two weeks after the Fulbright commission questioned the method used by "Becas Chile" to issue scholarships, the German Academic Exchange Service has asked the Chilean organization to change its application system (Conservative, independent La Tercera 11/29). ¶2. The U.S. Air Force Attach???? met with the organizers of Chile's Air and Space Fair (FIDAE). Also at the meeting were the Russian, French, and Venezuelan attach????s, among others. Note: The fair is scheduled for March 2010 (Conservative influential El Mercurio, 11/30). Indigenous Affairs ¶3. There are unofficial reports that forestry companies in the Ninth Region are being extorted by radical groups. Reportedly, one company was required to give an indigenous Mapuche community 30% of its harvest to let its trucks through. Another said its trucks are being charged a "toll" (La Tercera, 11/28). Human Rights ¶4. Ministry of Interior Immigration Office reports confirm that there are 317,057 immigrants in Chile. Of this total, over 7,000 are illegal and were brought into the country by international criminal organizations that offered them jobs for a fee of about US$1,500 dollars, but were then abandoned without jobs. Most are Haitians and Chinese who don't speak the language. The remaining group is largely Peruvian (El Mercurio Sunday magazine, 11/29). Editorial ¶5. Headline: "Obama's star is fading in Latin America": "If the United States is unable to persuade other countries into joining it in recognizing the election (in Honduras) it might end up being isolated and criticized for unilateralism. The question is whether Washington, which is buried in other urgent matters, will be capable of making decisions, gain allies, and give priority to its relations with Latin America. Although it does not want it, the United States will continue being a critical player in Latin America. It has to adopt some positions soon." (El Mercurio, 11/30). SIMONS