Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANTIAGO182
2009-03-02 11:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:  

CHILE: PRESS, GOC SPOKESMAN CRITICIZE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT

Tags:  PREL PGOV PHUM CI 
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UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000182 

SIPDIS
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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

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