CHILE: PRESS, GOC SPOKESMAN CRITICIZE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000182 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR WHA/BSC, DRL/AWH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM CI SUBJECT: CHILE: PRESS, GOC SPOKESMAN CRITICIZE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT Ref: Santiago 178 ¶1. (SBU) This year's human rights report garnered much more press coverage than the 2007 report. The media characterized the report as "criticizing" and "questioning" Chile on human rights issues. This was largely prompted by Government spokesman Vidal, who referred to Guantanamo when he commented about the report's section on Chilean prison conditions. The press also described the GOC as "irritated" by the report. However, a presidential advisor privately distanced the President and her political advisors from Vidal's remarks. End summary. Press Paint Report as "Critical" -------------- ¶2. (U) Chilean press coverage characterized this year's February 25 release of the Human Rights Report (HRR) (reftel) on Chile as "criticizing the handling of the Mapuche issue, the state of prisons in the country and femicide figures." [Note: The Bachelet government has used the term "femicide" to describe murders of women. End note.] Headlines ranged from "U.S. Includes Mapuche Conflict in Annual Human Rights Report" to "U.S. Human Rights Reports Questions Chile on Human Rights." Most coverage noted that this year's HRR highlights the police shooting of Mapuche activist Matias Catrileo on January 3, 2008. Government Spokesman: We Don't Have Guantanamo -------------- -- ¶3. (U) Government reactions heated up on February 26. GOC spokesperson Francisco Vidal responded to press queries about the U.S.'s "moral authority" to question Chile's human rights situation by saying, "We have problems in our prisons, no doubt... but in Chile we don't have Guantanamo." ¶4. (U) Other government agency heads responded to the report on February 27. The Director of the National Prison System asserted that the report demonstrates "total ignorance" regarding health conditions in the prisons. The Minister of the National Service for Women (SERNAM) underscored that the Bachelet government has made it a special priority to raise awareness about the problem of domestic violence. Meanwhile, the head of the Commission for the Defense of Citizens noted that it has received reports of police mistreatment of indigenous individuals and that those reports have been forwarded to the proper authorities. The press went on to claim that the Carabineros (national uniformed police force) found the report "biased" and critical of the GOC. Presidential Advisor Reassures Ambassador -------------- ¶5. (SBU) On February 27, Marcos Robledo, International Relations Advisor to President Bachelet, called the Ambassador to distance the political committee of the Bachelet cabinet from spokesperson Vidal's remarks. (Note: The "political committee" includes Minister of the Interior Edmundo Perez Yoma, Minister of the Secretariat General of the Presidency Jose Antonio Viera-Gallo, and Vidal himself. The political committee meeting the morning of February 27 was likely the first since Vidal's remarks of February 26. End note.) Robledo characterized Vidal's remarks as "most unfortunate" and explained that they went well beyond the views of the Cabinet's political committee and did not represent a meaningful response to the report. He added that the GOC was satisfied with the report, and that any additional official commentary would be forthcoming from the MFA. The Ambassador underlined to Robledo that the report is generally positive and reports on problem areas that have been pointed out in prior editions of the HRR. Other Government Reactions -------------- ¶6. (SBU) On February 26, EPOL Specialist fielded calls from the MFA's Director of Human Rights Ambassador Juan Anibal Barria and the SERNAM Head of International Relations. (Note: Barria's office serves as the clearinghouse and facilitator for government information included in the HRR. End Note.) He was initially concerned that the report was "a bit harsh this year." EPOL Specialist responded that this year's report maintains much of the same language as last year's with an update of figures and a tightening of the report to address editorial guidelines on length. EPOL Specialist also explained that the structure of the report draws attention to the death of the Mapuche youth, as it appears as the first item under the first section on the first page of the report. Barria was receptive to Post commentary and understands the document's strict standardized format. EPOL Specialist underscored Post's appreciation of the GOC's generous regular collaboration in providing official government figures for the preparation of the HRR and other annual reports. ¶7. (SBU) Head of International Relations of the National Women's Service (SERNAM) Maricel Sauterel explained to EPOL Specialist on February 27 that she and her team had read the report together with the Secretary's and Acting Assistant Secretary for DRL's remarks and had come to the conclusion that "the press is liberally interpreting the report" adding that publication of news that "the U.S. is criticizing Chile" sells papers. Comment -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Comment: This year's human rights report garnered much more press coverage than the 2007 report. This may be due, in part, to the fact that last year's report was released in mid-March, once the back-to-school and back-to-work season had begun. In contrast, the final week of February is the last week of the southern hemisphere summer season, a slow time in the news cycle. In addition, in previous years Post had provided an advance copy of the report to the MFA one day prior to its public release, allowing the GOC to prepare for press questions. This year's guidance embargoed the report until its public release, leaving Chilean officials unprepared to react to the negative spin the press put on the report. With prior years as a guide, Post expects press coverage to abate over the next few days. End comment. SIMONS