PRESS COVERAGE SENATOR KENNEDY VISIT TO CHILE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01390R000700900024-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 14, 2010
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: January 24, 1986
• Content Type: CABLE

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UNCLAS SANTIAGO 00510
FOR P/M. P/PFL. AR FOR OGLESBY, LEROY, VIRDEN,
STATE FOR ARA/SC, DURKEE, SWIGERT
E.O. 12356: N/A
SUBJ: PRESS COVERAGE SENATOR KENNEDY VISIT TO CHILE
SUMMARY
CHILEAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF SENATOR KENNEDY'S VISIT TO
CHILE, JAN. 15, CONTINUED HEAVY OVER THE PERIOD JAN.
18-21. IN ALL, 3 EDITORIALS, 2 EDITORIAL ANALYSES, 9
SIGNED OPINION PIECES, AND NUMEROUS NEWS SUMMARIES AND
SEPARATE NEWS ACCOUNTS ON GOC STATEMENTS OR ACTIONS WERE
GENERATED BY THE CHILEAN MEDIA DURING THE FOUR-DAY SPAN.
THE GREAT BULK OF MEDIA ATTENTION CONTINUED TO FOCUS ON
PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY THE SENATOR WHILE HERE, WITH THE
MEDIA (NOT INCLUDING THE OPPOSITION PRESS), GENERALLY
REPORTING A WIDE RANGE OF OPINIONS AND REACTIONS. STATE
DEPARTMENT COMMENTS ON THE VISIT AND LOCAL REACTIONS TO
THEM WERE GIVEN WIDE PLAY IN ALL SANTIAGO DAILIES, AND
ON RADIO AND TELEVISION. THE OPPOSITION PRESS REPORTED
WIDELY ON THE VISIT BUT EMPHASIZED THE PROBLEMS
ENCOUNTERED BY THE KENNEDY PARTY AND WHAT THEY VIEWED AS
GOC RESPONSIBILITY FOR THOSE PROBLEMS.
EDITORIALS
GOC "LA NACION" JANUARY 18 EDITORIAL UNDER HEAD "FOREIGN
VISITS" STATED "CHILE HAS ALWAYS BEEN CHARACTERIZED BY
ITS HOSPITALITY;... THE FOREIGN VISITORS WHO HAVE
RECENTLY RECEIVED OUR HOSPITALITY CAN CONFIRM THAT.
THOSE WHO HAVE COME BLINDED BY ALREADY ESTABLISHED
PREJUDICE HAVE BEEN ABLE, ALSO FREELY, TO STOP OVER IN
CHILE AND REENFORCE THEIR (PREJUDICED) ATTITUDES."
OPPOSITION SOCIAL DEMOCRAT WEEKLY "CAUCE" EDITORIAL
UNDER HEAD "FEELING ASHAMED" STATES "THE VISIT OF ONE OF
THE WORLD'S OUTSTANDING POLITICAL PERSONALITIES GAVE
RISE TO A SHAMEFUL SPECTACLE. THE VIOLENT AND AGGRESIVE
DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE PRESENCE IN CHILE OF SENATOR
EDWARD KENNEDY HAVE BROUGHT NEW REASONS FOR A LOSS OF
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INTERNATIONAL PRESTIGE AND PROVOKED IMMEDIATE AND
NEGATIVE REACTIONS. THE GRAVE AND PAINFUL FACT IS MADE
EVEN GREATER WHEN, ACCORDING TO A U.S. SPOKESMAN, THE
CHILEAN GOVERNMENT COULD NOT BE SAID TO HAVE BEEN
REMOVED FROM THESE ACTIONS OR, AT THE VERY LEAST, STOOD
BY PASSIVELY AND ALLOWED THEM TO TAKE PLACE."
CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC WEEKLY "HOY" EDITORIAL BY ACTING
EDITOR ABRAHAM SANTIBANEZ UNDER HEAD "LIKE A WHIRLWIND"
STATES "NO ONE WITH CLEAR POLITICAL JUDGEMENT COULD HOPE
THAT THE BRIEF AND AGITATED PASSAGE THROUGH CHILE OF
SENATOR KENNEDY COULD PROVOKE ANY MAGIC CHANGE IN THE
SITUATION. ONLY THE FEVERISH OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN AND
VIOLENT INCIDENTS BY SMALL GROUPS OF EXTREMISTS COULD
GIVE THE VISIT THE UNIMAGINABLE PROJECTION WHICH IT
ULTIMATELY HAD". "HOY" ALSO NOTED THAT IN CONTRAST TO
THE BEHAVIOR OF OTHERS "THE OPPOSITION, SO OFTEN
CRITICIZED AND SELF-CRITICAL... GAVE A DEMONSTRATION OF
SERENITY AND BALANCE."
PRESTIGIOUS DAILY "EL MERCURIO" JANUARY 19, 3 PART
EDITORIAL PAGE COMMENTARY UNDER HEAD "IN THE AFTERMATH
OF A VISIT" STATES "FROM A U.S. INTERNAL POINT OF VIEW,
THE VISIT OF SENATOR KENNEDY TO CHILE HAD A CLEAR
POLITICAL MOTIVE. CHILE REPRESENTED AN EXCEPTION (ON
THE TOUR)... IT IS POSSIBLE TO BELIEVE THAT HERE KENNEDY
WOULD LOOK FOR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A PUBLIC CONFRONTATION
WITH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT THAT COULD ... BEAR EVEN
RICHER POLITICAL FRUIT IN THE UNITED STATES THAN HIS
RECENT ... INTERVIEW WITH MINISTER BOTHA OF SOUTH
AFRICA. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PERSPECTIVE OF.BEING AN
OBJECT OF MANIPULATION AND UTILIZATION FOR INTERNAL U.S.
POLITICAL MOTIVES WERE THE ULTIMATE REASON WHICH MOVED
THE (GOC) TOWARD AVOIDANCE OF CONTACT (WITH THE SENATOR)
"IT IS PROBABLE THAT THE SAME FEAR MOVED CARDINAL
(FRESNO) OF SANTIAGO TO NOT MODIFY HIS SCHEDULE TO
PERMIT A MEETING WITH KENNEDY WHO DID, HOWEVER, MEET
WITH CARDINAL SILVA WHO CARRIED A FRIENDLY MESSAGE FROM
CARDINAL FRESNO."
UNDER SEPARATE HEAD SAME COMMENTARY "COMMENTS BY
KENNEDY" "MERCURIO" STATES "ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS
PARADOXICAL, THE OUTCOME OF THE KENNEDY VISIT MAY NOT
NECESSARILY BE NEGATIVE FOR THE MILITARY REGIME...
FOR P/M, P/PFL. AR FOR OGLESBY, LEROY, VIRDEN,
STATE FOR ARA/SC, DURKEE, SWIGERT
E.O. 12356: N/A
SUBJ: PRESS COVERAGE SENATOR KENNEDY VISIT TO CHILE
"THE LAST STATEMENT OF THE U.S. VISITOR SHOWED US THAT
IN THE FUTURE HIS BEHAVIOR AND PARLIAMENTARY INFLUENCE
OVER CHILE COULD FOCUS ON ACHIEVING THE PURPOSES AND
OBJECTIVES ESTABLISHED IN THE (NATIONAL ACCORD). IN THE
FUTURE ... IT MIGHT BE HOPED THAT HIS (KENNEDY'S)
EMPHASIS WILL BE ON FORMULATING CONCRETE DEMANDS OF THE
REGIME WITH REGARD TO THE LEGAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL
REFORMS (CALLED FOR BY THE ACCORD)."
SIGNED OPINION PIECES
HIGH CIRCUALTION "MERCURIO" CHAIN DAILY "LAS ULTIMAS
NOTICIAS" JANUARY 18 EDITORIAL PAGE COMMENTARY BY XAVIER
LETURRIA, UDI LEADER, UNDER HEAD "THE FRIENDS OF MY
MEMORIES" STATES "WHAT IS INSULTING AND INFURIATING IS
THAT HE (MR. KENNEDY) WHO ELECTED TO PUT HIMSELF IN THE
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POSITION OF ENEMY OF OUR COUNTRY, HAD THE AUDACITY TO
STEP ON OUR NATIONAL SOIL. MORE THAN AUDACITY. IT
CONSTITUTED AN OBCSENITY. HIS ONLY STATEMENT, THAT
CHILE HAS THE MOST REPRESSIVE GOVERNMENT IN LATIN
AMERICA AND OF THE WORLD, WAS REASON ENOUGH TO DENY HIM
ENTRANCE AS A VISITOR.
"WHAT IS TRULY REPUGNANT IN THIS CASE IS TO SEE HOW
CERTAIN PERSONALITIES WHO ARE INCLINED TOWARD OR
DEPENDENT UPON INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS PRESENT THEMSELVES
IN A SHAMELESS AND SUBSERVIENT WAY TO PRAISE AND ATTEND
TO AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS SO SERIOUSLY DAMAGED ALL
CHILEANS."
HIGHLEST CIRCULATION DAILY "LA TERCERA" SAME DAY OP-ED
COMMENTARY BY ARTURO VENEGAS, RADICAL PARTY LEADER,
STATES THE FACT THAT THERE IS DISAGREEMENT WITH KENNEDY
DOES NOT JUSTIFY THE TOTALLY RUDE AND BRUTAL EXPRESSIONS
MADE AGAINST A CONGRESSMAN ELECTED BY THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE."
"LA TERCERA" JANUARY 19 EDITORIAL PAGE COMMENARY P'
CHILEAN AUTHOR AND INTELLECTUAL PABLO HUNEEUS STATES
"THE RECENT DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST HIM (KENNEDY) IN
CHILE, IN ADDITION TO GIVING HIM WORLD-WIDE PUBLICITY,
DEMONSTRATE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE EXACTLY WHAT HE HAS
ARGUED FROM THE SENATE: THAT THE CHILEAN MILITARY
REGIME DOES NOT RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS."
TERCERA" COMMENTARY BY CONSERVATIVE, PRO-GOC WILLIAM
THAYER STATES "I REPROACH SENATOR KENNEDY FOR THE LACK
OF PERSPECTIVE AND PARTIALITY OF HIS JUDGEMENTS. CHILE
IS NOT THE KINGDOM OF TORTURE, KIDNAPPING AND
THROAT-CUTTING ANY MORE THAN THE U.S. IS THE KINGDOM OF
THE MAFIA, OF DRUG CONSUMPTION AND OF PRESIDENTIAL
ASSASSINATIONS." HOWEVER, THAYER CONTINUES. "I CENSURE
IN THE MOST ENERGETIC WAY THE BRUTAL AND VIOLENT
DEMONSTRATIONS TO WHICH HE WAS SUBJECTED."
"LAS ULTIMAS NOTICIAS" EDITORIAL PAGE COMMENTARY BY
PROMINENT CHILEAN CONSERVATIVE JULIO DURAN STATES "THE
CRITICISM AGAINST THE MAN WHO VISITED US IS NOT BASED
UPON THE VIOLENCE WITH WHICH HE CAN ANALYZE THE NATIONAL
STATE OF AFFAIRS (SIC) BUT UPON HIS ACTION IN CONGRESS
WHICH LED HIM TO PROPOSE HIS (THE KENNEDY) AMENDMENT ---
THE EXPLANATIONS GIVEN (RELATIVE TO THE AMENDMENT) ARE
NOT SUFFICIENT. FOR THAT REASON WE WILL NEVER FORGET
THE NAME OF KENNEDY NOR OF THOSE WHO APPLAUD HIM."
"ULTIMAS," JANUARY 20 EDITORIAL PAGE COMMENTARY BY
CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATIC LEADER JUAN HAMILTON STATES
"SENATOR KENNEDY ... IS THE MOST IMPORTANT VISITOR TO
ARRIVE IN OUR COUNTRY IN THE LAST DECADE. IN THE FACE
OF HIS VISIT TO CHILE, THE CHILEAN GOVERNMENT HAD THE
ALTERNATIVE OF GIVING OR DENYING AUTHORIZATION TO
ENTER. TO AVOID THE POLITICAL COST (THE GOC) OPTED TO
AUTHORIZE IT. MOREOVER, IT ... GUARANTEED HIS
SECURITY. NOW THAT THE VISIT IS OVER, THE KIND OF
COURTESY AND SECURITY HE WAS TO RECEIVE ARE EVIDENT. SO
WAS BORN A NEW FORM OF VIOLENCE. UPPER CLASS TERRORISM
PRACTICED BY UPPER CLASS YOUTH UNDER THE PROTECTION OF
THE AUTHORITIES AND THE POLICE."
OPPOSITION WEEKLY "CAUCE" COMMENTARY BY COLUMNIST JORGE
USIS
FOR P/M, P/PFL. AR FOR OGLESBY, LEROY, VIRDEN,
STATE FOR ARA/SC, DURKEE, SWIGERT
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SUBJ: PRESS COVERAGE SENATOR KENNEDY VISIT TO CHILE
OVALLE STATES THAT THE IRRATIONAL ATTITUDE OF PRO-GOC
FOLLOWERS "GAVE VIOLENT EXPRESSION TO A CAVE-STYLE
CONCEPT OF POLITICS IN WHICH A POLITICAL ADVERSARY IS AN
ENEMY --- THE CAVE MEN SHOULD LEARN THAT AN ATTACK
AGAINST A U.S. SENATOR... IS AN ATTACK ON THE U.S.
CONGRESS. MOREOVER IT IS AN ATTACK AGAINST PRESIDENT
REAGAN, SINCE KENNEDY IS A PART OF HIS REGIME (SIC) AND
NOT HIS ENEMY BUT A COLLABORATOR IN THE TASK OF BEING
PART OF THE OPPOSITION TO HIS GOVERNMENT."
SAME PAGE COMMENTARY BY NATIONAL PARTY LEADER PEDRO
CORREA UNDER HEAD "KENNEDY: MODERATION AND DEMOCRACY"
STATES "THE VISIT OF SENATOR KENNEDY HAS HAD THE VIRTUE
OF STRENGTHENING MODERATE POLITICAL POSITIONS IN CHILE.
"THE NATIONALISTS, BY OUR DEMOCRATIC NATURE, ARE
TOLERANT, A VIRTUE WHICH HELPS US EXCHANGE OPINIONS...
BECAUSE OF THAT WE MET WITH MR. KENNEDY."
"AT THE SAME TIME, THE KENNEDY VISIT SHOWED US A VERY
NEGATIVE ASPECT - THAT IS THE GROWING POLITICAL
POLARIZATION WHICH WE HAVE BEEN DENOUNCING AND WHICH WAS
DEMONSTRATED ON THE 15TH IN ACTS OF VIOLENCE BY THE
EXTREME RIGHT WHICH EMPLOYED THE SAME METHODS AS THE
ESTREME LEFT."
"LA TERCERA" JANUARY 21 COMMENTARY BY ANDRES CHADWICK,
UDI LEADER, UNDER HEAD "BALANCE OF A VISIT" STATES THAT
UPON COMPLETION OF THE SENATOR'S VISIT, "SURELY HE HAS
ACHIEVED HIS OBJECTIVE OF KNOWING FIRST HAND CHILEAN
REALITY, AFTER REMAINING IN OUR COUNTRY FOR A SPACE OF
24 HOURS IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CIRCULO ESPANOL (KENNEDY
HEADQUARTERS)." REFERRING TO POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE
ASPECTS OF THE VISIT, CHADWICK NOTES THAT ONE POSITIVE
ELEMENT IS THAT "THE DEMONSTRATION ORGANIZED BY UDI
YOUTH AT PUDAHUEL AIRPORT PROVES THAT PROMINENT
ECCLESIASTICS, STUDENTS AND LABOR LEADERS ARE NOT CLEAR
ABOUT WHAT CONSTITUTES NATIONAL DIGNITY."
PROMINENT COVERAGE OVER THE JANUARY 18-21 PERIOD WAS
ALSO GIVEN TO REACTIONS BY THE GOC AND A WIDE VARIETY OF
CHILEANS WHO EITHER OPPOSED OR SUPPORTED THE KENNEDY
VISIT. ALL SANTIAGO MEDIA CARRIED COMMENTS BY CHILEAN
FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN PABLO VALDES THAT CHILEAN
AMBASSADOR HERNAN FELIPE ERRAZURIZ HAD CONTACTED THE
STATE DEPARTMENT REGARDING GOC SECURITY MEASURES
SURROUNDING THE KENNEDY VISIT AS A RESULT OF STATE
DEPARTMENT CRITICISM OF THOSE MEASURES. WHEN QUERIED
REGARDING DIFFERENCES OF OPINION BETWEEN THE GOC AND THE
DEPARTMENT, VALDES WAS QUOTED BY THE MEDIA AS SAYING "IT
SEEMS TO ME THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY DIFFERENCE OF
OPINION. WHAT THEY EXPRESSED, AT A GIVEN MOMENT, WAS A
CONCERN, FROM REPORTS WHICH THEY RECEIVED IN WASHINGTON,
THAT DID NOT REFLECT WHAT WAS REALLY HAPPENING."
FRIEDMANN
UNCLASSIFIED
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