VZCZCXYZ0006
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0166/01 0431653
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 121652Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0507
INFO RHMCSUU/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY 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 
 
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¶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