VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSG #1154 3341951
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301950Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0343
INFO RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0190
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 001154
SIPDIS
STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL SNAR EFIN CI
SUBJECT: Santiago Nov. 30 Media Report
Chile-U.S.
1. Just two weeks after the Fulbright commission questioned
the method used by "Becas Chile" to issue scholarships, the German
Academic Exchange Service has asked the Chilean organization to
change its application system (Conservative, independent La Tercera
11/29).
2. The U.S. Air Force Attach???? met with the organizers of
Chile's Air and Space Fair (FIDAE). Also at the meeting were the
Russian, French, and Venezuelan attach????s, among others. Note: The
fair is scheduled for March 2010 (Conservative influential El
Mercurio, 11/30).
Indigenous Affairs
3. There are unofficial reports that forestry companies in the
Ninth Region are being extorted by radical groups. Reportedly, one
company was required to give an indigenous Mapuche community 30% of
its harvest to let its trucks through. Another said its trucks are
being charged a "toll" (La Tercera, 11/28).
Human Rights
4. Ministry of Interior Immigration Office reports confirm
that there are 317,057 immigrants in Chile. Of this total, over
7,000 are illegal and were brought into the country by
international criminal organizations that offered them jobs for a
fee of about US$1,500 dollars, but were then abandoned without
jobs. Most are Haitians and Chinese who don't speak the language.
The remaining group is largely Peruvian (El Mercurio Sunday
magazine, 11/29).
Editorial
5. Headline: "Obama's star is fading in Latin America": "If
the United States is unable to persuade other countries into
joining it in recognizing the election (in Honduras) it might end
up being isolated and criticized for unilateralism. The question
is whether Washington, which is buried in other urgent matters,
will be capable of making decisions, gain allies, and give priority
to its relations with Latin America. Although it does not want it,
the United States will continue being a critical player in Latin
America. It has to adopt some positions soon." (El Mercurio,
11/30).
SIMONS