VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #2847 3631824
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 291824Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6890
INFO RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL//SCJ2//
RULGPUA/USCOMSOLANT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 002847 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INR/R/MR, I/GWHA, WHA, WHA/PDA, WHA/BSC, 
WHA/EPSC 
CDR USSOCOM FOR J-2 IAD/LAMA 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO OPRC KMDR PREL MEDIA REACTION
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS POLICY IN ARGENTINA; ECUADOR; 12/29/06 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY STATEMENT 
 
Most local papers extensively report on Argentine President Nestor 
Kirchner coordinating a manhunt for a human rights witness, who went 
missing on Wednesday after accusing last year former police officer 
Luis Patti of torturing him in 1972. Local dailies highlight that 
authorities are still looking for another human rights witness who 
disappeared more than three months ago. Leading "Clarin" carries an 
opinion piece by its political editor underscoring that "the case 
poses a challenge and inflicts an offense on the Government and the 
entire society." 
 
¶2. OPINION PIECES 
 
- "A gloomy challenge is posed to (Argentina's) Government and its 
entire society" 
 
Julio Blanck, political columnist of leading "Clarin," writes 
(12/29) "When Julio Lopez disappeared, there were hesitations and 
conspiracy theories about the reasons - some unbelievable theories 
shifted the blame on the victim. One hundred days have passed since 
then and there is no news about Lopez... With the disappearance of 
Luis Gerez, President Kirchner, Governor Sola and Minister Anibal 
Fernandez were soon notified, and everyone turned to one  direction 
- that of a kidnapping. 
 
"The fact that Gerez was a follower of Kirchner and was attending a 
political meeting when kidnapped contributed (to the immediate 
awareness by the Government that he had been kidnapped). We should 
not disregard the fact that kidnappers acted under those 
circumstances with the purpose of intensifying the feeling that 
three decades away from the latest military dictatorship, the 
'inhabitants' of that 'gloominess' can go unpunished today. This is 
the overwhelming message conveyed by Gerez's disappearance, witness 
testifying against former police officer Luis Patti... 
 
"The message hits the Government. It is a major test to the chore of 
its human rights policy which along with the performance of the 
economy makes up the cornerstone of Kirchner's success. But it would 
be stupid to understand this as a political arm-wrestling... between 
the leftovers of State terrorism and the current government. 
 
"... Authorities are responsible for the resolution of the case... 
However, the case poses a challenge and inflicts an offense on the 
entire society... As never before, staying indifferent now is a way 
of taking sides." 
 
- "An acid test for Ecuador" 
 
Leading "Clarin" carries an op-ed piece by Hector Rubini, an 
economist and professor at Universidad Argentina de la Empresa and 
Nacional University of General Sarmiento, who writes (12/29) "On 
January 15, Rafael Correa will take over as President of Ecuador. He 
will find it hard to put the country on the right track. The reasons 
why Ecuador lost its direction are not easy to understand. 
 
"... Correa's first months of government will be an acid test for 
him - he will attempt to call a Constituent Assembly and establish a 
foreign policy that is far from Washington, which will not be easy. 
 
"Nonetheless, the real challenge will be to revisit the State and 
struggle against corruption. On the domestic front, he will have to 
abide by the main principle of the indigenous culture 'you should 
not steal, lie or beg? loaf.' On the economic front, the main social 
claim is related to preserving stability, creating jobs, eradicating 
poverty and recovering the 'culture' of lending. 
 
"... Not few people bet on (Correa's) failure, but this would imply 
the regrettable return of well-known politicians who have ruined 
Ecuador. 
 
"The focus of attention is not 'to dollarize or not to do it.' but 
rather the eradication of demagogy, bribery and corruption. It will 
not be easy, but with almost 50 percent of Ecuadorians underemployed 
and with claims of all kinds, (Correa) will have to give out a clear 
sign right from his first day in office." 
 
To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sqov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires 
 
WAYNE