Cablegate: Santiago Nov. 30 Media Report

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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

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