MEDIA REACTION: HAITI; 2/11-12/10; BUENOS AIRES

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000166 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 AR SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: HAITI; 2/11-12/10; BUENOS AIRES SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. Media continued to focus on the fate of the U.S. missionaries being held on trafficking charges, with one headline referring to them as "appropriators." Pro-government Buenos Aires Economico reported that Coca-Cola Latin America's Group gave a one-million dollar donation to the Red Cross for Haiti relief efforts. Largest circulation Clarin (2/11) reprinted a newswire that physicians of the University of Miami backed the incredible survival story of one man buried under the rubble for 27 days. End summary. 10 AMERICANS ARRESTED COULD BE RELEASED -------------- ¶2. Media continued to focus on the fate of the U.S. missionaries being held on trafficking charges, speculating on -- and criticizing -- their release. Under the headline, "Child appropriators will be released," centrist Critica clearly expressed its objection, adding a subheadline, "The judicial decision contributes to legitimizing the presence and action of U.S. troops in Haiti following the earthquake." The paper adds that Laura Silsby, the leader of the U.S. missionaries, had claimed she planned to build an orphanage in the Dominican Republic, but authorities in the country said she never submitted an application for this purpose. Pagina 12 appeared more objective; however, it reported that while the Americans claimed to be on a humanitarian mission, "it transcended that the children were not orphans and that most were delivered to the U.S. missionaires with their parents' authorization." http://criticadigital.com/impresa/index.php?s ecc=nota &nid=38385 http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/sociedad/3- 140119-2010-02-12.html COCA-COLA DONATION -------------- ¶3. Pro-government daily, business-financial Buenos Aires Economico underscored (2/12) that Coca-Cola Latin America Operating Group gave a one million dollar donation to the Red Cross for Haiti relief efforts. The paper stressed that the donation is in addition to another $1 million the company's charitable arm donated last week for the same purpose. ANOTHER HAITIAN SURVIVOR -------------- ¶4. Leading circulation Clarin reprinted an Agence France-Presse (AFP) newswire (02/11) reporting on a very thin, severely dehydrated 28-year-old Haitian, Evans Monsigrace, who survived after being been 27 days under the rubble. The paper stressed, "The doctors from the University of Miami who attended to the Haitian survivor in a Port-of-Prince field hospital backed his story (that it is feasible that he survived on water and perhaps some fruit)." http://www.clarin.com/diario/2010/02/11/elmun do/i-02137635.htm To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our classified website at: http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires MARTINEZ