MEDIA REACTION: HAITI; CHINA'S CENSORSHIP OF GOOGLE AND

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000100 SIPDIS STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KPAO KMDR PREL HA CH KNNP AR SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: HAITI; CHINA'S CENSORSHIP OF GOOGLE AND AVATAR; ARGENTINA'S NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT 01/29/10; BUENOS AIRES SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. Although no longer a front-page news story, Haiti continues to make headlines, with articles now focusing on reconstruction and adoption issues. The Chinese government's censorship of both Google and the Avatar movie, as well as Argentina's nuclear development in view of the upcoming NPT Conference to be held in New York in May, were both subjects of opinion pieces. End summary. HAITI: RECONSTRUCTION, IMF LOAN, ADOPTIONS -------------- ¶2. On January 29, conservative daily La Prensa reported that former President Bill Clinton, UN Special Envoy for Haiti, made a strong call for businessmen and political leaders to rebuild Haiti. La Prensa quoted former President Clinton saying, "Haiti has the opportunity to get rid of its past and build a better future. It does not come down to reconstruct Haiti the way it used to be." ¶3. On January 28, two newspapers reported that the IMF would grant a loan to Haiti in the amount of 112 million dollars. Centrist Critica underscored that "humanitarian NGOs criticized the IMF for having granted a loan instead of a donation for the country." Pro-government, left-of-center Pagina 12 also reported on the IMF loan, with no commentary. http://www.criticadigital.com/impresa/index.p hp?secc=nota &nid=37637 http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/sociedad/su bnotas/3-44977-2010-01 -28.html ¶4. On January 29, two local dailies reported on the international adoptions of Haitian orphans. Leading circulation Clarin carries an op-ed piece highlighting that, "Adoption can be a wish but never a right, and this is why adoption has a restrictive nature." According to the article, those who do not agree with this principle are, for instance, "the Guatemalan mafias, which trade in average 3,000 children every year," and have profits that are similar to those of coffee exports or tourism. The article also mentions Internet pages, which are full of "intermediation agencies," with the pictures of Haitian children apt to be "exported." Daily-of-record La Nacion reported that, after the Argentine Foreign Ministry told the 14 families who adopted Haitian children that it could nothing to help them, five of the 14 parents traveled to Santo Domingo in an attempt to enter Haiti. http://www.clarin.com/diario/2010/01/29/opini on/o-02129275.htm http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1 227086 CHINA'S CENSORSHIP COULD SPARK CONFLICTS -------------- ¶5. An editorial in January 29 leading circulation Clarin notes that while China's Google censorship continues, the Chinese government censored the Avatar movie as well. According to the editorial, the Chinese government fears the ideology underlying the film, which urges people to oppose the appropriation of natural resources. The paper's editorial concludes that Chinese actions are not compatible with consumption development and exchanges with foreign countries, and could thus bring over increasing political conflicts in the future. http://www.clarin.com/diario/2010/01/29/opini on/o-02129275.htm "ARGENTINA AND THE NUCLEAR ISSUE" -------------- ¶6. An op-ed in January 28 daily-of-record La Nacion (by Juan Gabriel Tokatlian, professor of Political Science and International Studies at Torcuato Di Tella University) notes that a significant number of countries, both in the world and in the region, are making strategic decisions on the nuclear front, and that "the NPT Review Conference, which will be held in New York in May, will be a transcendental milestone for the international community. We could well be witnessing a turning point: either the global nuclear regime gets balanced and makes progress or we will enter a sensitive and uncontrolled path." Tokatlian argues that Argentina should work jointly with Brazil and Chile in the nuclear development field, and that "the ABC bloc could become an important player in the New York meeting and also a key referent for stability and prosperity in the area." http://www.lanacion.com.ar/nota.asp?nota_id=1 226573 To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires MARTINEZ