VZCZCXYZ0016
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DE RUEHSG #0014 0071450
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 071449Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0501
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
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UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000014
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: Media Report January 7
Former President Frei's Death
1. The work relationship between toxicologist Laura B????rgel
and
former President Eduardo Frei Montalva's son, Jorge Frei Ruiz
Tagle, has become a new source of controversy. Reportedly, this
could cause the dismissal of Dr. B????rgel from the case since she
has
certified the thesis about his poisoning. Today, Attorney Luis
Valentin Ferrada will file a petition on behalf of his client, Dr.
Patricio Silva - one of the individuals charged for homicide in the
Frei case- requesting further inquiries and objecting Dr. Borgel's
work. (Conservative, independent La Tercera, 1/7)
Chile-U.S.
2. Twenty MBA students from Texas Christian University's Neely
School of Business visited the facilities of El Mercurio in
Santiago. (Conservative, newspaper-of-record El Mercurio, 1/7)
Human Rights
3. In an unprecedented action in the twenty years of the
Concertacion's Administration, and on behalf of "the Chilean
society", Under Secretary of the Interior Patricio Rosende will
file 24 lawsuits on crimes against humanity. This is the first
time that the Ministry of the Interior's Human Rights Program will
file a suit for such crimes. It is also the first occasion in which
it is conducted on behalf of the victims who are typified as
"political executes" instead of detainees-disappeared. These new
court cases would involve prosecuting former military or civilian
agents who have not been involved in proceedings yet.
(Government-owned, editorially independent La Nacion, 1/7)
Local
4. Justice Milton Juica was sworn in as new President of the
Supreme Court. He replaced outgoing Justice Urbano Marin. (El
Mercurio, 1/7)
5. Jacqueline Weinstein was sworn in as new Minister of State
Property. She replaced Romy Schmidt who assumed as Director of the
new Human Rights Memorial Museum. (El Mercurio, 1/7)
6. The Chilean Customs Service Employees Association's began
its second day on strike. The work stoppage is disrupting the
normal flow of travelers and goods through land, port, and air
terminals throughout the country. The employees' main requests are
to increase the number of positions to enlarge their workforce and
modernization of the Service. (El Mercurio, 1/7)
SIMONS