Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SANTIAGO557
2009-06-12 17:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:
CHILE MEDIA REPORT -- JUNE 12
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UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000557
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 -- JUNE 12
Leading Stories
---------------
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000557
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 -- JUNE 12
Leading Stories
--------------
1. The Health Ministry issued a decree as a result of the WHO's
declaration of a pandemic, placing human influenza as the first
priority in terms of resources, allocation of medical personnel and
medications. Dailies also report that the Investigations Police
suspended six of its detectives in connection to a child
prostitution ring.
U.S.-Related News
--------------
2. President Bachelet's agenda in Washington starts with a private
meeting with President Obama on June 23, followed by a meeting that
will include Ministers Mariano Fernandez (foreign affairs),Andres
Velasco (finance,) and Marcelo Tokman (energy). Bachelet will then
meet with Vice President Joe Biden. One of her most symbolic
activities will be the inauguration of a sculpture of Bernardo
O'Higgins at the Chilean Embassy (El Mercurio, conservative,
influential newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000; La Tercera,
conservative, independent, circ. 101,000, 6/12).
3. The Executive Board of the Chilean Wood Corporation (CORMA) met
again on Monday to strengthen their offensive and find a prompt
solution to the commercial conflict with the United States over the
subsidies that the USG pays U.S. cellulose producers. The goal is
for President Bachelet to include this topic in her meeting with
President Obama in Washington on June 23 (La Segunda, conservative,
afternoon (circ. 33,000, 6/11).
AH1N1
--------------
4. The WHO's declaration of a pandemic will not significantly alter
the measures already being applied in Chile to contain the outbreak,
said Health Minister Alvaro Erazo. However, it does give him the
authority to order schools and universities to close or to ban
public activities. Local authorities have completely discarded the
possibly of closing border crossings or applying travel restrictions
(La Tercera, 6/12).
5. Center for Disease Control (CDC) official Anthony Mounts said
Chile is in conditions to carry out more research than other
countries and it has climatic elements worth studying. With regard
to Puerto Montt, where the virus has been especially aggressive, WHO
expert Elena Pedroni said it is possible that the high tourist flow
to that area and the cold weather contributed to the spread of the
virus (La Tercera, 6/12).
6. Gringo CDC experts Anthony Mounts and Octavio Silva met
yesterday with health officials to hold a video conference with WHO
officials and experts in Mexico and Canada to get a grip on how the
piggy influenza developed in Chile and the measures applied locally
to contain it (Popular tabloid La Cuarta, 6/12).
Prostitution Scandal
--------------
7. Background: The Public Ministry reopened an investigation
concerning the involvement of Investigations Police (PDI) detectives
and a prosecutor in a prostitution network that involved minors in
the port of Valparaiso. The case dates back to 2007, when Carlos
Parra was sentenced to eight years in prison for sexual exploitation
and "facilitating minors." One of the victims testified at the time
that several detectives were involved in the network. The PDI,
however, issued a report stating that there was no evidence of such
connection. In March of this year, former PDI sheriff Hector Guzman
went to the Chamber of Deputies to denounce the ties between the
detectives and the prostitution network. PDI Under Secretary
Ricardo Navarrete denied such ties. A few days ago the former
sheriff denounced the case on Channel 13 TV, which aired an
investigative report with the results. As a result of that program,
the PDI's national director ordered an internal investigation. End
background.
8. Human Rights Assembly attorney Hugo Gutierrez claims that Navy
personnel contacted the head of the prostitution ring, Parra, to
provide minors to UNITAS personnel in 2007 (All dailies, 6/12).
UNASUR-Venezuela
--------------
9. President Hugo Chavez was scheduled for an official visit to
Chile at the same time of the next UNASUR meeting on July 6. But
now UNASUR will take place in Ecuador on August 10. Caracas will
propose a new date for an official visit, said Foreign Affairs
Minister Mariano Fernandez (La Tercera, 6/12).
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 -- JUNE 12
Leading Stories
--------------
1. The Health Ministry issued a decree as a result of the WHO's
declaration of a pandemic, placing human influenza as the first
priority in terms of resources, allocation of medical personnel and
medications. Dailies also report that the Investigations Police
suspended six of its detectives in connection to a child
prostitution ring.
U.S.-Related News
--------------
2. President Bachelet's agenda in Washington starts with a private
meeting with President Obama on June 23, followed by a meeting that
will include Ministers Mariano Fernandez (foreign affairs),Andres
Velasco (finance,) and Marcelo Tokman (energy). Bachelet will then
meet with Vice President Joe Biden. One of her most symbolic
activities will be the inauguration of a sculpture of Bernardo
O'Higgins at the Chilean Embassy (El Mercurio, conservative,
influential newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000; La Tercera,
conservative, independent, circ. 101,000, 6/12).
3. The Executive Board of the Chilean Wood Corporation (CORMA) met
again on Monday to strengthen their offensive and find a prompt
solution to the commercial conflict with the United States over the
subsidies that the USG pays U.S. cellulose producers. The goal is
for President Bachelet to include this topic in her meeting with
President Obama in Washington on June 23 (La Segunda, conservative,
afternoon (circ. 33,000, 6/11).
AH1N1
--------------
4. The WHO's declaration of a pandemic will not significantly alter
the measures already being applied in Chile to contain the outbreak,
said Health Minister Alvaro Erazo. However, it does give him the
authority to order schools and universities to close or to ban
public activities. Local authorities have completely discarded the
possibly of closing border crossings or applying travel restrictions
(La Tercera, 6/12).
5. Center for Disease Control (CDC) official Anthony Mounts said
Chile is in conditions to carry out more research than other
countries and it has climatic elements worth studying. With regard
to Puerto Montt, where the virus has been especially aggressive, WHO
expert Elena Pedroni said it is possible that the high tourist flow
to that area and the cold weather contributed to the spread of the
virus (La Tercera, 6/12).
6. Gringo CDC experts Anthony Mounts and Octavio Silva met
yesterday with health officials to hold a video conference with WHO
officials and experts in Mexico and Canada to get a grip on how the
piggy influenza developed in Chile and the measures applied locally
to contain it (Popular tabloid La Cuarta, 6/12).
Prostitution Scandal
--------------
7. Background: The Public Ministry reopened an investigation
concerning the involvement of Investigations Police (PDI) detectives
and a prosecutor in a prostitution network that involved minors in
the port of Valparaiso. The case dates back to 2007, when Carlos
Parra was sentenced to eight years in prison for sexual exploitation
and "facilitating minors." One of the victims testified at the time
that several detectives were involved in the network. The PDI,
however, issued a report stating that there was no evidence of such
connection. In March of this year, former PDI sheriff Hector Guzman
went to the Chamber of Deputies to denounce the ties between the
detectives and the prostitution network. PDI Under Secretary
Ricardo Navarrete denied such ties. A few days ago the former
sheriff denounced the case on Channel 13 TV, which aired an
investigative report with the results. As a result of that program,
the PDI's national director ordered an internal investigation. End
background.
8. Human Rights Assembly attorney Hugo Gutierrez claims that Navy
personnel contacted the head of the prostitution ring, Parra, to
provide minors to UNITAS personnel in 2007 (All dailies, 6/12).
UNASUR-Venezuela
--------------
9. President Hugo Chavez was scheduled for an official visit to
Chile at the same time of the next UNASUR meeting on July 6. But
now UNASUR will take place in Ecuador on August 10. Caracas will
propose a new date for an official visit, said Foreign Affairs
Minister Mariano Fernandez (La Tercera, 6/12).
SIMONS