By Paula Buzzi
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

SANTIAGO, Chile — President Sebastian Pinera has been accused of attempting to “whitewash history” by his left wing opposition parties after the National Education Council formally announced its decision last week to refer to General Augusto Pinochet’s controversial rule as a “regime” rather than a “dictatorship” in school textbooks. The council had approved of this change in December during a special session but it became known to the general public only on Wednesday after an El Dinamo report.

Education Minister Harald Beyer defended the change on Wednesday stating that the decision to change the way textbooks refer to Pinochet’s rule was not politically motivated, but rather was  based on the fact that “regime” is a more general term used around the world that would be better understood by children in the first through sixth grades.

“This has nothing to do with partisans or detractors. It is about using the same expression used in schools around the world, a more general term such as military regime,” Beyer stated. He added that he personally has no problem acknowledging Pinochet’s regime as a dictatorship.

Left-wing opposition parties, however, are outraged by the decision. During Pinochet’s rule from 1973 to 1990, over 3,000 members of the opposition were killed or disappeared and around 37,000 were tortured or illegally held. President Pinera’s majority in parliament  relies in part on the backing of Pinochet’s former political base, the right-wing Independent Democratic Union.

According to the director of the Museum of Memory, Ricardo Bordsky Baudet, the term “Military regime” is a euphemism which hides something relevant. Deputy RN party president, Manuel Jose Ossandon believes history should be left to the historians. “If my father had been detained and disappeared, this change would be an insult to me,” he stated.

Senator Isabel Allende, whose father had been detained and murdered, believes the change is unacceptable. “It goes against all common sense, because the whole world knows that for 17 years what we had in Chile was a ferocious dictatorship with the most serious violations of human rights,” she said. Allende’s father, President Salvador Allende, was killed in 1973 when he was overthrown by Pinochet’s regime.

Former President Eduardo Frei also believes the change is a mistake. “History cannot be changed by a decree or a law. There is only one history and it is clear: it was a dictatorship, full stop.”

 

For further information, please see:

The Washington Post – Chile Replaces ‘Military Dictatorship’ With ‘Regime’ in Official Textbooks – 04 January 2011

BBC News – Pinochet “Dictatorship” Textbook Row Erupts in Chile – 05 January 2012

Herald Sun – Chile Downgrades Pinochet Era to a ‘Regime’ Rather Than a Dictatorship – 05 January 2012

The Financial Times – Chile Axes ‘Dictatorship’ From School Books – 05 January 2012

The Telegraph – Chile Accused of Airbrushing Augusto Pinochet History – 05 January 2012

 

 

 

by Emilee Gaebler
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

SANTIAGO, Chile – Dozens of forest fires currently rage throughout the southern Magallanese, Maule and Bio Bio regions.  Over 500 firefighters have been deployed in an attempt to control the fires that started on December 31. 

In the Bio Bio region, a 75 year-old man was killed when he ignored evacuation requests.  Over 40 homes have now been destroyed and roughly 500 people have been forced to evacuate the area.

Empresas Copec SA, the largest publicly traded Chilean company also suffered losses.  A plywood-producing mill in the Bio Bio region was destroyed in the fire.  Copec successfully evacuated 250 employees from the Nueva Aldea plant well before the fire hit it.

Due to the destruction caused by the fire, the public shares for the company fell 1.8% according to the Washington Post Business reports.  The company released a statement that estimated close to 9,880 acres of company land were destroyed.

Throughout Chile, 48 separate fires existed yesterday and only 20 of them are under control.  Early on Monday of this week the 500 evacuees were forced to move a second time as the flames advanced.

“We are facing an extremely vulnerable situation.  Three regions are under red alert. In addition we have eight regions with different types of fire alerts. This undoubtedly puts enormous pressure on resources,” stated President Sebastian Piñera.

Helicopters and planes also were deployed to the area but were unable to be used in fighting the fires due to the high winds, which are fanning the flames.  Solely those workers on the ground have fought the battle at this point.

The firefighters say that they have controlled four of the six big fires that have spread throughout the Torres del Paine National Park, which is located further south in the Patagonia region.

Thousands of tourists, currently vacationing in the Patagonia area, were banned from visiting the world-famous park; causing millions of dollars to be lost by the tourism industry.  President Piñera hopes to reopen portions of the park by the middle of this week.  He reports that currently 32,000 acres have been destroyed, which is close to 7% of the total park.

An Israeli tourist, 23 year- old Rotem Singer, was detained this weekend on charges of arson.  Police claim that he is suspected of negligently starting the fire in the Torres del Paine Park.  Friends of Singer say that he lit a toilet paper roll on fire and did not properly extinguish it.

Family members of Singer’s, back in Israel, are outraged over the accusations being made.  They claim that Chile is simply looking for a scapegoat to blame the fires on.  The Chilean prosecutor on the case says that Singer acknowledged his role in starting the fire.

If convicted, Singer faces two months in jail and a fine of $300 (US).  Environmental groups roundly criticized the government for what they viewed as a “slow response.”  President Piñera, in response, has proposed enhanced penalties for those responsible for starting fires, regardless of their actions being negligent or planned.

 

For more information, please see;

CNN – Deadly Chile Forest Fires Spread – 2 Jan 2012

CTV – Chile Battles 3 Massive Wildfires; 1 Killed – 2 Jan 2012

Washington Post Business – Copec Falls Most in Four Weeks as Chile Fire Destroys Plant – 2 Jan 2012

BBC – Israeli Tourist Family Defends Chile Fire Suspect – 1 Jan 2012

by Emilee Gaebler
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Last week, the “media bill” made its way through Argentina’s lower congress, passing in the lower house by a vote of 134 to 92.  It then moved forwards, where the Senate also passed it.  This week President Cristina Fernandez signed it into force.

The Argentine “media bill” is being criticized as way for the government to choke the freedom of the press.  The bill makes the sale and distribution of newsprint a national interest.  This places it under government control so that the paper is equally distributed to all media sources and has a set price.

Papel Prensa, which distributes 78% of all newsprint in Argentina, is now mandated by the government to operate at maximum capacity in order to meet all domestic needs.  They must also supply the state with a regular investment plan.

The main shareholders of Papel Prensa are the Clarins media group, which owns a 49% share and the La Nación media group, which owns 22.5%.  The government owns a 27.5% share.  Both Clarins and La Nación have stated that the bill is an underhanded government expropriation of private property.

It is well known that President Fernandez believes Clarins media group provides unfair reporting on herself and her government.  She has also alleged in the past that the sale of Papel Prensa to Clarins sometime during the 1976-1983 military dictatorship was illegal.

“The intention to seize Papel Prensa isn’t an isolated case, but the latest in a whole series of measures aimed at controlling the media,” said opposition deputy Federico Pinedo.

Clarins newspaper notes that there are a number of disturbing aspects to the bill.  First is the passage that allows for the state to unilaterally take a majority share of the company as the newsprint distribution is now classified a national interest.  Also of concerns is the portion that would permit the Economy Minister to determine how much newsprint to import, establishing government quotas that have never before existed.

The Argentine Association of Journalistic Enterprises also criticized the bill in a statement they released, noting that the actions taken will cause more problems than they propose to solve.

Supporters of the bill state that in the past, the monopoly held by Papel Prensa over access to newsprint has limited the abilities of independent media sources.  Smaller newspapers like Pagina 12 and El Tiempo Argentino applauded the passage of the bill.

Concurrent with the media bill passage is a new anti-terrorism bill that classifies certain “economic crimes,” including certain actions taken by the media, as terrorist acts.  The bill states that “economic terrorist acts” are those done with an intent to terrorize the general population.

Argentine newspaper, O Estado de Sao Paulo reported that this measure would allow the government to consider “terrorist” anything that negatively portrays or criticizes the government.  This second bill is viewed as a much more cunning move by the Fernandez administration to ensure that media sources within the nation are kept in check.

A third bill passed through the government at the same time.  It limits the amount of property that is purchased in Argentina by foreign companies or foreign individuals.  The law was passed close to unanimously in both houses.  It limits foreign entities from owning more than 15% of Argentine territory.

All three together are leading some commentators to note that the way is now paved for President Fernandez to establish an authoritarian regime.   Since she was sworn in for her second term as president, just two weeks ago, Fernandez’s administration has pushed through 11 new laws.

 

For more information, please see:

Merco Press – Argentine Media Bill: “A Dictatorship Couldn’t Have Done it Better” – 27 December 2011

Pulse America – Argentina This Week – 26 December 2011

BBC News – Argentina to Tighten Controls on Newsprint Supplies – 16 December 2011

Center for International Media Assistance – Argentina: Controversial Law to Control Newsprint Production in Argentina Moves Forward – 15 December 2011

By Paula Buzzi
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

LIMA, Peru — Lori Berenson, a U.S. political activist jailed in Peru since 1995 for terrorism, and her 31-month toddler were denied from boarding a flight back to her New York home on Friday despite showing immigration authorities a court order approving the leave. The Peruvian court authorized her leave for the holidays on Thursday conditioned upon her return on January 11.

Berenson, a former MIT student, was arrested in 1995 at age 25 on a terrorism conviction after authorities raided her home and found over a dozen members of the Tupac Amaru group inside. The government believes that the rebel group was preparing an attack on Congress and that Berenson was aiding in the planning and providing them a safe house. Authorities also found around 8,000 rounds of ammunition and  3,000 sticks of dynamite inside the home.

Berenson was initially sentenced to life in prison by a military judge, but her sentence was later reduced to 20 years in prison in civil court with pressure from the U.S government. Berenson denied having any knowledge about the rebel group’s violent plans during her trial but has recently acknowledged and regretted to have aided the rebels.

After serving more than 15 years in prison, Berenson has been out on parole and was granted permission by a Peruvian judge to visit her family in New York City for the holidays. Berenson claims that she was turned away by immigration authorities upon arriving at the airport because she was “missing a document” but that she was sure she had all the documents required for travel.

Berenson’s lawyer is her ex-husband and a former member of the rebel group, Anibal Apari Sanchez. Sanchez believes the government abused its authority and made a political decision to stop her from leaving the country. “Administratively, you can’t block a court order,” he said.

An anonymous U.S. State Department official stated that there were some paperwork issues that were being worked through but that he could not comment any further on the situation because of its sensitivity.

Guillermo Gonzales, A Judiciary Department spokesman denies blocking the court order. “We don’t have anything to do with it,” he said. “As far as the judiciary is concerned, she was allowed to leave the country.” Neither the Interior Ministry nor any senior government official could give an explanation.

Sanchez told Reuters he is going to see what other measures he can take in the coming days to make sure Berenson will be home in New York for the holidays.

For further information, please see:

Reuters – Peru Delays Former Prisoner Berenson’s Return to U.S – 18 December 2011

The Washington Post – State Attorney Alleges Judicial Misconduct in Granting Berenson Permission to Holiday in NY – 18 December 2011

CNN – Paroled American Activist Stopped From Leaving Peru, Her Lawyer Says – 17 December 2011

The New York Times – American Who Was Jailed in Peru Is Blocked at Airport – 17 December 2011

 

 

By Paula Buzzi
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

SANTIAGO, Chile — Labor minister Carlos Lupi resigned on Sunday after being accused of corruption by news agency Agencia Brasil. The news agency accused him of misusing public funds and supporting certain NGOs over others. Lupi is the seventh minister to resign since President Rousseff took office in January.

Suspicions surrounding Lupi’s work ethics first arose in November after Brazilian news magazine Veja reported that Lupi and some of his aids were receiving kickbacks from NGOs in exchange for government funding. Additionally, Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper also reported allegations that Lupi was receiving dual government salary for six years as a federal congressional employee and state legislature of Rio de Janeiro at the same time; a violation of Brazilian law.

Lupi has denied the accusations and is confident that the truth will come out. In a statement on the labor ministry’s web site, Lupi wrote “In the face of political and personal persecution in the media that I have been suffering for two months without the right of defense and without proof, and taking into consideration the report of the Ethics Commission of the Presidency — which has also condemned me in a summary fashion based on these same media reports without giving me a right to defend myself — I’ve decided to irrevocably resign my position.” He has not yet been charged with a crime.

Lupi will be replaced by the ministry’s executive secretary, Paulo Roberto dos Santos Pinto starting on Monday.

President Rousseff has publicly thanked Lupi for all his work in her government and that she expects him to “continue contributing to the country.” She has lost six ministers to scandals this year alone which has weakened her relationship with coalition parties in congress.

Opposition groups have suggested that the scandals and resignations surrounding President Rousseffs government show that her government is tainted by corruption. President Rousseff, however rebuts those claims, stating that there has always been corruption in Brazilian governments– the only difference now is that the scandals are being made public and investigated appropriately.

 

For further information, please see:

BBC News – Brazil Labour Minister Carlos Lupi is Latest to Resign – 04 December 2011

CNN – Brazil’s Labor Minister Quits AmidAllegations of Corruption – 04 December 2011

Reuters – Brazilian Labor Minister Quits Amid Scandal – 05 December 2011

MercoPress – Countdown for Brazil’s Labour Minister: Sixth Cabinet Loss on Corruption Allegations – 01 December 2011