CHILE MEDIA REPORT - AUGUST 27

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000810 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 - AUGUST 27 Lead Story -------------- ¶1. The government is considering a constitutional reform to restrict residence visas for Easter Island, based on environmental sustainability. Island leaders, however, want an immediate solution to the problem (Conservative, independent La TErcera, 8/27). U.S.-Related News -------------- ¶2. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are among the important participants that will attend the Americas Competitiveness Forum in Santiago in September. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has also been invited (Conservative, influential newspaper-of-record El Mercurio, 8/27). ¶3. Political scientist Patricio Navia noted a column published by The Miami Herald written by Chile's ambassador to United Nations Heraldo Munoz. In the last paragraph, Munoz says the United States "perhaps owes the people of Chile a formal apology in light of the considerable evidence revealed over the years on U.S. covert activities against the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende" (Conservative, independent, La Tercera, 8/27). Senator Edward Kennedy -------------- ¶4. Senator Edward Kennedy arrived to Chile in 1986, ten years after sponsoring a military blockade against Chile for the duration of the Pinochet government. Demonstrators gathered at the airport and with eggs and stones prevented Kennedy's car from leaving the airport. No government official was waiting for him and the senator had to be flown out on a helicopter. Socialist Party president Camilo Escalona: "Democratic sectors in Chile feel deeply for Senator Kennedy's passing away, because of his concern and courage in supporting democracy when the dictatorship was trying to perpetuate itself in power" (Afternoon, conservative La Segunda, 8/26). ¶5. President Bachelet: "Kennedy supported Chilean democrats during very hard times. He strongly raised his voice to denounce human rights violations." Opposition party Congressman Rodrigo Alvarez: "Kennedy was a great senator and legislator, but from the viewpoint of Chile's defense, the Kennedy Amendment was inadequate." PS Senator Juan Pablo Letelier: "I only feel gratitude for his moral stature and his commitment to human rights, democracy, and freedom" (El Mercurio, 8/27) UNASUR -------------- ¶6. Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez said his country would request UNASUR to air tomorrow's summit on television. Bermudez said it would be "interesting and positive" for the international community to see the stance that the different heads of state have on specific issues (El Mercurio, 8/27). Indigenous Affairs -------------- ¶7. President Bachelet appointed Minister Secretary General to the Presidency Jose Antonio Viera-Gallo "minister coordinator" to help resolve the indigenous Mapuche conflict in the Region of Araucania. In April 2008, the government announced a series of initiatives to deal with the conflict, including the creation of an Indigenous Council empowered to review legislation. However, government sources said yesterday that the government was not considering giving the council only a consulting role (El Mercurio, 8/27). ¶8. Mapuche leaders rejected the creation of the Indigenous Council on the grounds that it would not have the authority to review legislation. Former Secretary General to the Presidency Francisco Huenchumilla said that the government should create a Ministry for Indigenous Affairs rather than a council, elect "ethnic congressmen," and merge the National Indigenous Development Corporation (Conadi) with other entities to assist farmers in the region (El Mercurio, 8/27). ¶9. In a regular check, the police found Spanish citizen Iker Urriza carrying propaganda in the form of books, CDs, and banners, of the Basque terrorist organization ETA. Urriza admitted bringing the material for Spain to deliver it to German del Campo, member of an local anarchist group, who in turn would hand it to an individual in the community of Tirua, which is at the center of the Mapuche conflict. The Ministry of Interior is reviewing Urriza's eventual expulsion (El Mercurio, 8/27). Digital Television -------------- ¶10. Brazilian Communications Minister Helio Costa said his Argentine counterpart Lisandro Salas had informed him that Buenos Aires had chosen the Brazilian/Japanese digital television standard (El Mercurio, 8/27). SIMONS