Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANTIAGO127
2009-02-11 16:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:
CHILE MEDIA REPORT - FEBRUARY 11
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UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000127
SIPDIS
STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PREL SNAR EFIN CI
SUBJECT: CHILE MEDIA REPORT - FEBRUARY 11
Leading Stories
---------------
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000127
SIPDIS
STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PREL SNAR EFIN CI
SUBJECT: CHILE MEDIA REPORT - FEBRUARY 11
Leading Stories
--------------
1. Dailies highlighted that President Bachelet now has a scheduled
meeting with Fidel Castro on Friday. Front page news included
President Obama's rescue package, noting "disappointment" in the
plan triggered a drop in stock markets worldwide.
U.S.-Related News
--------------
2. In interviews with regional dailies in four different cities in
southern Chile, Agricultural Attach Joe Lopez highlighted the
positive ongoing work between U.S. and Chilean health and sanitary
entities. He said the result of this effort is reflected in the
outstanding quality of Chilean products -- equal to those produced
in the United States or in any industrialized country. Lopez also
stressed the beneficial results of the bilateral FTA, noting the
importance of having a strong agriculture sector. "Not depending on
anyone for food makes you powerful," he said. Lopez explained that
this trip was to learn about the specific concerns for mid-sized
agricultural producers in southern Chile.
3. Editorial entitled, "Obama's Seal on the Crisis"
"Obama has been very clear in admitting that the economy is facing
enormous challenges and that its recovery will be slow. Although he
has just started to fight a crisis inherited from the previous
administration, his first efforts, unfortunately, have not yielded
the expected results (Diario Financiero, business and
financial,circ. 30,000,2/11).
Cuba
--------------
4. President Bachelet has scheduled a meeting with Fidel Castro on
Friday. This would make her the first Chilean president to meet
with the Cuban leader since 1972 (All dailies, 2/11).
5. Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley released a speech made on
February 5 by Chile's permanent representative to international
organization in Geneva, Carlos Portales. In his remarks, Portales
praised Cuba's progress in education and health. He also valued
Cuba's announcement that it would ratify the International
Convention on Forced Disappearance of Persons and the International
Civil and Political Rights Pact. However, he recommended Cuba to
allow the entry of a special rapporteur on torture, which Cuba has
already announced it would do. The release of Portales' remarks is
a government effort to counter the opposition and the DC's criticism
over Bachelet's decision not to meet with the Cuban dissidents (La
Tercera, 2/11).
Economy
--------------
6. A Central Bank report shows that experts foresee a growth of
just 1.2% for Chile for 2009. This would be the lowest growth rate
in the last decade (El Mercurio, La Tercera, conservative,
independent, circ. 101,000, 2/11)
7. To mitigate the effects of the financial crisis, the government
in March will begin paying the benefits under its program to help
those earning less than $441,000 pesos a month. The program will
pay all workers registered with the Chile Solidario Program a
$40,000-peso bonus per child (or legal recipient). The benefit will
also go to those who are or were in the labor market, but are
currently receiving unemployment insurance, are widows, handicapped,
or unwed mothers (La Nacion, government-owned, editorially
independent, circ. 4,200, 2/11).
Human rights
--------------
8. Swiss authorities will review a request for political asylum
filed by eleven-year old Relmutry Cadin, on the grounds that her
family is being persecuted in Chile. Cadin is the child of Mapuche
leader Juana Calfunao, who is serving a four-year prison term. In
2006, Calfunao and a group of Mapuches beat two prosecutors, and in
1996 physically assaulted the director of the government's
Indigenous Affairs Committee. Her husband, sister and other family
members are also in prison for the same crimes. The child's aunt,
Flor Calfunao, filed the petition (La Tercera, 2/11).
Corruption
--------------
9. The Investigation Police (PDI) arrested its own Counternarcotics
Brigade official Gonzalo Araya. The officer sought to sell
narcotics seized during DPI operations (La Nacion, 2/11).
SIMONS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PREL SNAR EFIN CI
SUBJECT: CHILE MEDIA REPORT - FEBRUARY 11
Leading Stories
--------------
1. Dailies highlighted that President Bachelet now has a scheduled
meeting with Fidel Castro on Friday. Front page news included
President Obama's rescue package, noting "disappointment" in the
plan triggered a drop in stock markets worldwide.
U.S.-Related News
--------------
2. In interviews with regional dailies in four different cities in
southern Chile, Agricultural Attach Joe Lopez highlighted the
positive ongoing work between U.S. and Chilean health and sanitary
entities. He said the result of this effort is reflected in the
outstanding quality of Chilean products -- equal to those produced
in the United States or in any industrialized country. Lopez also
stressed the beneficial results of the bilateral FTA, noting the
importance of having a strong agriculture sector. "Not depending on
anyone for food makes you powerful," he said. Lopez explained that
this trip was to learn about the specific concerns for mid-sized
agricultural producers in southern Chile.
3. Editorial entitled, "Obama's Seal on the Crisis"
"Obama has been very clear in admitting that the economy is facing
enormous challenges and that its recovery will be slow. Although he
has just started to fight a crisis inherited from the previous
administration, his first efforts, unfortunately, have not yielded
the expected results (Diario Financiero, business and
financial,circ. 30,000,2/11).
Cuba
--------------
4. President Bachelet has scheduled a meeting with Fidel Castro on
Friday. This would make her the first Chilean president to meet
with the Cuban leader since 1972 (All dailies, 2/11).
5. Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley released a speech made on
February 5 by Chile's permanent representative to international
organization in Geneva, Carlos Portales. In his remarks, Portales
praised Cuba's progress in education and health. He also valued
Cuba's announcement that it would ratify the International
Convention on Forced Disappearance of Persons and the International
Civil and Political Rights Pact. However, he recommended Cuba to
allow the entry of a special rapporteur on torture, which Cuba has
already announced it would do. The release of Portales' remarks is
a government effort to counter the opposition and the DC's criticism
over Bachelet's decision not to meet with the Cuban dissidents (La
Tercera, 2/11).
Economy
--------------
6. A Central Bank report shows that experts foresee a growth of
just 1.2% for Chile for 2009. This would be the lowest growth rate
in the last decade (El Mercurio, La Tercera, conservative,
independent, circ. 101,000, 2/11)
7. To mitigate the effects of the financial crisis, the government
in March will begin paying the benefits under its program to help
those earning less than $441,000 pesos a month. The program will
pay all workers registered with the Chile Solidario Program a
$40,000-peso bonus per child (or legal recipient). The benefit will
also go to those who are or were in the labor market, but are
currently receiving unemployment insurance, are widows, handicapped,
or unwed mothers (La Nacion, government-owned, editorially
independent, circ. 4,200, 2/11).
Human rights
--------------
8. Swiss authorities will review a request for political asylum
filed by eleven-year old Relmutry Cadin, on the grounds that her
family is being persecuted in Chile. Cadin is the child of Mapuche
leader Juana Calfunao, who is serving a four-year prison term. In
2006, Calfunao and a group of Mapuches beat two prosecutors, and in
1996 physically assaulted the director of the government's
Indigenous Affairs Committee. Her husband, sister and other family
members are also in prison for the same crimes. The child's aunt,
Flor Calfunao, filed the petition (La Tercera, 2/11).
Corruption
--------------
9. The Investigation Police (PDI) arrested its own Counternarcotics
Brigade official Gonzalo Araya. The officer sought to sell
narcotics seized during DPI operations (La Nacion, 2/11).
SIMONS