VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #0182/01 0611132
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021132Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4530
INFO RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 1329
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 6011
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ MAR BRASILIA 0722
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4263
RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 3814
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2193

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000182 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR WHA/BSC, DRL/AWH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM CI
SUBJECT:  CHILE:  PRESS, GOC SPOKESMAN CRITICIZE HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 
 
Ref: Santiago 178 
 
¶1.  (SBU) This year's human rights report garnered much more press 
coverage than the 2007 report.  The media characterized the report 
as "criticizing" and "questioning" Chile on human rights issues. 
This was largely prompted by Government spokesman Vidal, who 
referred to Guantanamo when he commented about the report's section 
on Chilean prison conditions.  The press also described the GOC as 
"irritated" by the report.  However, a presidential advisor 
privately distanced the President and her political advisors from 
Vidal's remarks.  End summary. 
 
Press Paint Report as "Critical" 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) Chilean press coverage characterized this year's February 25 
release of the Human Rights Report (HRR) (reftel) on Chile as 
"criticizing the handling of the Mapuche issue, the state of prisons 
 
in the country and femicide figures." [Note: The Bachelet government 
has used the term "femicide" to describe murders of women.  End 
note.]  Headlines ranged from "U.S. Includes Mapuche Conflict in 
Annual Human Rights Report" to "U.S. Human Rights Reports Questions 
Chile on Human Rights."  Most coverage noted that this year's HRR 
highlights the police shooting of Mapuche activist Matias Catrileo 
on January 3, 2008. 
 
Government Spokesman:  We Don't Have Guantanamo 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶3.  (U) Government reactions heated up on February 26.  GOC 
spokesperson Francisco Vidal responded to press queries about the 
U.S.'s "moral authority" to question Chile's human rights situation 
by saying, "We have problems in our prisons, no doubt... but in 
Chile we don't have Guantanamo." 
 
¶4.  (U) Other government agency heads responded to the report on 
February 27.  The Director of the National Prison System asserted 
that the report demonstrates "total ignorance" regarding health 
conditions in the prisons.  The Minister of the National Service for 
Women (SERNAM) underscored that the Bachelet government has made it 
a special priority to raise awareness about the problem of domestic 
violence.  Meanwhile, the head of the Commission for the Defense of 
Citizens noted that it has received reports of police mistreatment 
of indigenous individuals and that those reports have been forwarded 
to the proper authorities.  The press went on to claim that the 
Carabineros (national uniformed police force) found the report 
"biased" and critical of the GOC. 
 
Presidential Advisor Reassures Ambassador 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) On February 27, Marcos Robledo, International Relations 
Advisor to President Bachelet, called the Ambassador to distance the 
political committee of the Bachelet cabinet from spokesperson 
Vidal's remarks.  (Note: The "political committee" includes Minister 
of the Interior Edmundo Perez Yoma, Minister of the Secretariat 
General of the Presidency Jose Antonio Viera-Gallo, and Vidal 
himself.  The political committee meeting the morning of February 27 
was likely the first since Vidal's remarks of February 26.  End 
note.)  Robledo characterized Vidal's remarks as "most unfortunate" 
and explained that they went well beyond the views of the Cabinet's 
political committee and did not represent a meaningful response to 
the report.  He added that the GOC was satisfied with the report, 
and that any additional official commentary would be forthcoming 
from the MFA.  The Ambassador underlined to Robledo that the report 
is generally positive and reports on problem areas that have been 
pointed out in prior editions of the HRR. 
 
Other Government Reactions 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) On February 26, EPOL Specialist fielded calls from the 
MFA's Director of Human Rights Ambassador Juan Anibal Barria and the 
SERNAM Head of International Relations.  (Note:  Barria's office 
serves as the clearinghouse and facilitator for government 
information included in the HRR.  End Note.)  He was initially 
concerned that the report was "a bit harsh this year."  EPOL 
Specialist responded that this year's report maintains much of the 
same language as last year's with an update of figures and a 
tightening of the report to address editorial guidelines on length. 
EPOL Specialist also explained that the structure of the report 
draws attention to the death of the Mapuche youth, as it appears as 
the first item under the first section on the first page of the 
report.  Barria was receptive to Post commentary and understands the 
document's strict standardized format.  EPOL Specialist underscored 
Post's appreciation of the GOC's generous regular collaboration in 
providing official government figures for the preparation of the HRR 
and other annual reports. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Head of International Relations of the National Women's 
Service (SERNAM) Maricel Sauterel explained to EPOL Specialist on 
February 27 that she and her team had read the report together with 
the Secretary's and Acting Assistant Secretary for DRL's remarks and 
had come to the conclusion that "the press is liberally interpreting 
the report" adding that publication of news that "the U.S. is 
criticizing Chile" sells papers. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Comment:  This year's human rights report garnered much 
more press coverage than the 2007 report.  This may be due, in part, 
to the fact that last year's report was released in mid-March, once 
the back-to-school and back-to-work season had begun.  In contrast, 
the final week of February is the last week of the southern 
hemisphere summer season, a slow time in the news cycle.  In 
addition, in previous years Post had provided an advance copy of the 
report to the MFA one day prior to its public release, allowing the 
GOC to prepare for press questions.  This year's guidance embargoed 
the report until its public release, leaving Chilean officials 
unprepared to react to the negative spin the press put on the 
report.  With prior years as a guide, Post expects press coverage to 
abate over the next few days.  End comment. 
SIMONS