Santiago Oct. 21 Media Report

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000998 SIPDIS STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL SNAR EFIN CI SUBJECT: Santiago Oct. 21 Media Report Lead Story -------------- ¶1. Hooded individuals carrying shotguns intercepted and burned two trucks in the Region of Araucania, where indigenous communities are reclaiming ancestral lands (All dailies, 10/21). U.S.-Related News -------------- ¶2. Chilean ambassador to the U.S. Jose Goni hosted a meeting in honor of the presidents of the Chilean Senate and Chamber of Deputy Jovino Novoa and Rodrigo Alvarez. Former U.S. ambassador to Chile Craig Kelly, OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza and former Ministers Alejandro Foxley and Jaime Ravinet attended. The main topic of discussion became Honduras, because Insulza was receiving continuous reports on the situation in that country throughout the evening (Conservative, influential El Mercurio, 10/21). ¶3. Kenneth French is the head of a team of financial advisors that many consult, including President Obama. "Many of the U.S. administration's proposals are aligned with ours," said French in a conference organized by Universidad del Desarrollo and Capital Advisors on future financial regulations (El Mercurio, 10/21). ¶4. The Third International Forum for Mining Industry Suppliers began successfully yesterday in Santiago. The forum has become an important venue for entrepreneurs and investors who are looking for new business opportunities. Approximately 70 companies from the United States, Australia, Germany, Israel, and Italy, among others, are participating (Government-owned La Nacion, 10/21) Local Politics -------------- ¶5. President Bachelet named Carmen Andrade minister of the National Women's Service. Andrade will replace Laura Albornoz who resigned yesterday to join Eduardo Frei's campaign (La Nacion, 10/21). Salitre Exercise -------------- ¶6. Front page photograph: Chilean, U.S, and European air forces take to the skies today in "Salitre" exercise in northern Chile (La Nacion, 10/21). Poll -------------- ¶7. The October CERC poll (Centro de Estudios de la Realidad Contemporaneos) on the presidential election confirms Sebastian Pinera's lead with 40% support. Eduardo Frei and Marco Enriquez-Ominami are tied at 20%. In a runoff, Pinera is 16% ahead of Frei (49% versus 33%) and just 9% ahead of Enriquez-Ominami (45% versus 39%). The poll was face to face nationwide and has a 3% margin of error (Conservative, independent La Tercera, 10/21). Indigenous Conflict -------------- ¶8. A group of hooded individuals carrying shotguns intercepted and burned two trucks yesterday on the road connecting Angol and Collipulli in the Region of Araucania. The assailants fired at the police who arrived to the scene. Mapuche spokespersons claim that one of the individuals was killed, although it has not been impossible to confirm this information because indigenous communities refuse to turn in the alleged body. Radical Mapuche organization CAM (Coordinadora Arauco Malleco) sent Radio Bio Bio an e-mail claiming responsibility for the attacks. It also declared "war against the state of Chile" and the territory south of the Bio Bio River "an autonomous Mapuche nation." A June 2009 Department of State report warned about the increase in CAM activities (La Tercera, 10/21). ¶9. Minister of Interior Edmundo Perez-Yoma said that any Mapuche community protecting the "criminals" responsible for the recent burning of trucks or armed attacks would not be eligible to receive land under the government programs (El Mercurio, 10/21). ¶10. Interceptions of telephone conversations among individuals under surveillance for their participation in recent violent incidents in the Region of Araucania revealed that there was a plan to bring down police helicopters patrolling the area of conflict, said the police yesterday. This would include the use of automatic weapons. On October 5, individuals fired a 9mm weapon at a police helicopter, forcing it to conduct an emergency landing (El Mercurio, 10/21). SIMONS