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E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV ECON PREL SNAR EFIN CI
SUBJECT:  CHILE MEDIA REPORT - APRIL 21 
 
Leading Stories 
--------------- 
¶1.  Dailies reproduced information published by government agencies 
of what their officials earn, in accordance the new Transparency 
law.  Dailies also report that presidential candidate Eduardo Frei 
named 27-year old Sebastian Bowen to head his presidential campaign. 
 Bowen is the former director of the organization that builds homes 
for low-income families, "A Roof for Chile." 
 
U.S.-Related News 
----------------- 
¶2.  Finance Minister Andres Velasco will visit the United States and 
call on the President of the U.S. Federal Reserve Ben Bernancke, 
Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner, and the NY Federal Reserve 
President William Dudley (El Mercurio, conservative, influential 
newspaper-of-record, circ. 129,000, 4/21) 
 
¶3.  Conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El Mercurio" 
editorial entitled, "Obama's Summit." 
"President Obama's pragmatism and charisma disarmed the critics of 
the United States -- again -- and reaffirmed his leadership.  Most 
importantly, it paved the way for a new phase in the relations of 
the United States with the rest of America....  Obama's search for 
alliances and cooperation continues to yield results with a 
pragmatic strategy that has entailed no major costs to the United 
States....  President Obama's most significant contribution was to 
create a climate of diplomatic openness and a wider view of the 
Inter-American agenda....  Not much more happened at the Summit. 
The joint declaration was long on rhetoric...  and had to be signed 
symbolically only by the host.  This was foreseeable in a continent 
that is fragmented, lacks institutions, and shares no common 
stance." 
 
¶4.  Column by Cristina Bitar in "La Segunda" entitled, "Cuba in the 
Summit of the Americas" 
"Although ALBA countries may find that Obama's measures (with regard 
to Cuba) are insufficient, these are important in showing his desire 
to change relations with Cuba....  The real question is whether ALBA 
countries want a 'new era' or if it is more convenient for them to 
feed the rivalry between the United States and Cuba... which allows 
their populist and authoritarian ideologies to continue expanding. 
But I think Obama won this battle, because he not took important 
steps with regard to Cuba before the Summit.  He also said he is 
willing to lead a 'new beginning' with Cuba, and he even shook hands 
with Chavez.  I hope the rest of Latin America can rescue the best 
of the Summit to strengthen ties with the United States... and not 
let ALBA close the door to the beginning of this new era." 
 
¶5.  Conservative, afternoon "La Segunda" April 20 editorial 
entitled, "Obama and Latin America" 
"The most obvious outcome of the Summit is, thanks to his audacious 
and prudent handing, an optimistic welcome... and a deliberately 
positive attitude by Hugo Chavez..., Barack Obama achieved his goal. 
 The United States offered the subcontinent a 'new relationship,' 
which in practice means it accepts different political options in 
the region, even paving the way for an understanding with the Cuban 
regime....  The Cuban regime has not said anything... (because) Raul 
Castro has much to gain and to lose, but it is up to him to decide 
whether he takes the path that could improve the economic situation, 
and force democratic openness.  Chavez chose to approve Washington's 
'change' (in policy).  However, it's impossible to predict if he 
will stop calling his principal enemy the cause of all evils....  On 
the domestic front, Obama was criticized for not confronting Chavez, 
but in balance Latin America favors him." 
 
¶6.  A robotics team from the Nocedal School in the community of La 
Pintana won first place for technological innovation at the First 
Lego League in Atlanta.  The students presented a solar-powered 
sprinkler system and competed with 18,000 students.  The Chilean 
team organized raffles and sought donations to cover the expense to 
travel to the United States (El Mercuri0, 4/21). 
 
¶7.  David Bilbao, one of the students injured in the Pensacola 
shootings, said he would sue the USG.  "Someone has to take 
responsibility for the physical and psychological damage," he said 
(El Mercurio, 4/19). 
 
¶8.  A group of 12 students from a low-income school in Lo Barnechea 
are visiting the United States as part of the Memphis in May 
Festival exchange program, which this year features Chile (El 
Mercurio, 4/20). 
 
Transparency Law 
---------------- 
¶9.  The Transparency Law requires government institutions to make 
available on the internet the salaries of their employees.  Dailies 
published several salaries for different members of the government: 
President Bachelet makes 7.3 million pesos per month (US$12,500); a 
minister earns 6.6 million (US$11,300); an assistant secretary 5.9 
million (US$10,100); a senator 6.7 million (US$11,500); and a 
supreme court justice 6.5 million (US$11,100). 
 
¶10.  The newly-available public information also showed that several 
government officials who resigned, or were removed, for corruption 
or mismanagement scandals were rehired, but in different offices, 
and are earning salaries of about 3 million pesos (US$5,100).  Such 
is the case of former Health Minister Soledad Barria, who is now 
working for the Secretary General to the Presidency.  The data also 
shows that hiring spouses, sons, daughters, in-laws or other 
relatives is common practice.  Private sector CEOs earn on the 
average 22.5 million pesos (US$ 38,600) per month, while their 
counterparts in state-owned companies make 60% less.  However, 
mid-level managerial positions earn about the same in both sectors 
(US$22,000).  The best paid public official is the Director of 
National Television (TVN), Daniel Fernandez, who earns 13.6 million 
a month (US$23,000) (La Tercera, 4/21). 
 
Narcotics 
--------- 
¶11.  The Investigations Police (PDI) seized 16,000 doses of pressed 
Paraguayan marijuana in Easter Island, which was shipped from 
Santiago.  An Easter Islander and his spouse were arrested.  They 
also had cocaine and marihuana plants in their home (Las Ultimas 
Noticias, leading-circulation, popular, circ. 140,000, 4/19). 
 
¶12.  The health authorities have issued a warning on the sale of a 
type of synthetic marihuana -- "Spice" -- that is sold in stores as 
"a mix of herbs to smoke."  It smells of vanilla and honey and is 
four times more potent than marijuana (La Tercera, 4/21). 
 
Venezuela 
--------- 
¶13.  President Hugo Chavez's daughter, Mara Gabriela, who serves as 
Venezuela's First Lady, is dating the youngest grandson of former 
Chilean President Salvador Allende, Pablo Sepulveda (La Tercera, 
4/19) 
SIMONS