* Says Pampa Larga 15 well flowing at 4 mmcfpd * Says well to help co double output this year (Adds details)
Dec 4 (Reuters) - Latin American oil and gas company GeoPark Holdings Ltd (GPK.L) said on Friday it successfully drilled and tested a new development gas well in Chile.
The AIM-listed company said the Pampa Larga 15 well, located on the Fell block and drilled to a depth of 2,900 metres, is flowing at a rate of about 4.0 million cubic feet per day (mmcfpd) of gas.
"The successful Pampa Larga well will help GeoPark achieve its targeted doubling of production this year," Chairman Gerald O'Shaughnessy said in a statement.
Pampa Larga 15 represents the seventh successful well drilled by GeoPark in 2009, the company said, adding that it was carrying out a 10-well drilling program on the Fell block.
Geopark shares were indicated down 0.8 percent at 325 pence at 0749 GMT. (Reporting by Tresa Sherin Morera in Bangalore; Editing by Vinu
Source: reuters.com/
Friday, December 4, 2009
World Cup 2010: Chile Profile
Coach: Marcelo Bielsa
Confederation: Conmebol
FIFA Ranking (Dec 09): 17
Previous Appearances: 7 (1930, 1950, 1962, 1966, 1974, 1982, 1998)
Background
Chile doesn’t have a great tradition in football like Brazil, Argentina or Uruguay. Chile fights for being in the second order in South America and through the years, have dealt with good and bad administrations of its FA, which never have let the national team cement a solid base to the future. Despite all this, Chile manages to qualify for World Cups.
How They Qualified
Chile qualified when they beat Colombia (4-2) in Medellin. Chile had never before won so many times as on the road as they did in this qualifying campaign. Chile always qualified in the past by being strong at home, but not away but that wasn't the case this time around.
Strengths
A very attacking team, with a high-powered offence. From the very first minute, Chile will go searching for goals. And when the team is winning, they keep up the pressure and do not fall into a defensive shell. Synchronised movements are the key to their success.
Weaknesses
The defence. Errors in the backline due to the pressure create at the opposite end. Another weakness is the defensive aerial game, due to their lack of height.
The Coach
Marcelo Bielsa is a personality in football. He is studious and ‘crazy’ (his alias is ‘El Loco’) for strategy and football. A faithful follower of the ‘Coerver’ method, implanted his identity in a group of players that blindly trust in him and mechanise their moves throughout the game. Their lineup either at home or away is always 3-3-1-3.
Star Men
Humberto Suazo (Monterrey)
He was the top scorer of the South American Qualifiers with 10 goals. He is owner of a very good shot and if you give him a even few centimetres, he will make you pay.
Alexis Sanchez (Udinese)
'El Nino Maravilla' (The Wonderboy) will be 21 years old in the World Cup. He is fated to be one of the greatest figures of the Chilean team. He doesn’t have Suazo’s scoring ability but he is explosive as a right winger and at any minute can generate a chance or a penalty.
Matias Fernandez (Sporting CP)
He was the Best South American Player in 2006 and despite having a mediocre stint at Villarreal in Spain, his level has never dropped in the Chilean team. He is the key in the midfield and despite his dispute with Jorge Valdivia for being the playmaker of the team, he will probably be the starter in the first match of the World Cup.
Best XI
Best Footballing Moment
Without any doubt, it occurred in 1962 when Chile finished in third place in the World Cup that took place on their home soil. After losing to Brazil in the semi-finals, Chile beat Yugoslavia 1-0 in the third place match.
Off The Pitch
Famous for: It’s a land of poets. Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda won the literature Nobel Prize. Its wines are also recognised all over the world.
Most likely to: encourage their team in large crowds, like in the 1998 World Cup. ‘La Marea Roja’ won recognition for its passion and encouragement in that tournament, although many of them are still paying their debts for that adventure... In South Africa, something similar will happen.
World Cup Objective
For Chile and Bielsa, the first objective is to win a match away from home. The other mission is to replicate what the ’98 team did in France. In that World Cup, Chile reached the Round of 16. From there, everything is a gift.
Source: goal.com/
Confederation: Conmebol
FIFA Ranking (Dec 09): 17
Previous Appearances: 7 (1930, 1950, 1962, 1966, 1974, 1982, 1998)
Background
Chile doesn’t have a great tradition in football like Brazil, Argentina or Uruguay. Chile fights for being in the second order in South America and through the years, have dealt with good and bad administrations of its FA, which never have let the national team cement a solid base to the future. Despite all this, Chile manages to qualify for World Cups.
How They Qualified
Chile qualified when they beat Colombia (4-2) in Medellin. Chile had never before won so many times as on the road as they did in this qualifying campaign. Chile always qualified in the past by being strong at home, but not away but that wasn't the case this time around.
Strengths
A very attacking team, with a high-powered offence. From the very first minute, Chile will go searching for goals. And when the team is winning, they keep up the pressure and do not fall into a defensive shell. Synchronised movements are the key to their success.
Weaknesses
The defence. Errors in the backline due to the pressure create at the opposite end. Another weakness is the defensive aerial game, due to their lack of height.
The Coach
Marcelo Bielsa is a personality in football. He is studious and ‘crazy’ (his alias is ‘El Loco’) for strategy and football. A faithful follower of the ‘Coerver’ method, implanted his identity in a group of players that blindly trust in him and mechanise their moves throughout the game. Their lineup either at home or away is always 3-3-1-3.
Star Men
Humberto Suazo (Monterrey)
He was the top scorer of the South American Qualifiers with 10 goals. He is owner of a very good shot and if you give him a even few centimetres, he will make you pay.
Alexis Sanchez (Udinese)
'El Nino Maravilla' (The Wonderboy) will be 21 years old in the World Cup. He is fated to be one of the greatest figures of the Chilean team. He doesn’t have Suazo’s scoring ability but he is explosive as a right winger and at any minute can generate a chance or a penalty.
Matias Fernandez (Sporting CP)
He was the Best South American Player in 2006 and despite having a mediocre stint at Villarreal in Spain, his level has never dropped in the Chilean team. He is the key in the midfield and despite his dispute with Jorge Valdivia for being the playmaker of the team, he will probably be the starter in the first match of the World Cup.
Best XI
Best Footballing Moment
Without any doubt, it occurred in 1962 when Chile finished in third place in the World Cup that took place on their home soil. After losing to Brazil in the semi-finals, Chile beat Yugoslavia 1-0 in the third place match.
Off The Pitch
Famous for: It’s a land of poets. Gabriela Mistral and Pablo Neruda won the literature Nobel Prize. Its wines are also recognised all over the world.
Most likely to: encourage their team in large crowds, like in the 1998 World Cup. ‘La Marea Roja’ won recognition for its passion and encouragement in that tournament, although many of them are still paying their debts for that adventure... In South Africa, something similar will happen.
World Cup Objective
For Chile and Bielsa, the first objective is to win a match away from home. The other mission is to replicate what the ’98 team did in France. In that World Cup, Chile reached the Round of 16. From there, everything is a gift.
Source: goal.com/
Chile reburies singer Victor Jara
The remains of popular Chilean singer Victor Jara have been reburied in the capital, Santiago, 36 years after he was killed following a military coup.
Hundreds of people paid their final respects to one of the most prominent victims of the coup that brought Gen Augusto Pinochet to power in 1973.
Mr Jara's body was exhumed in June so that a court could clarify the circumstances of his death.
It was established that he had been shot more than 30 times.
Victor Jara was admired as a theatre director as well as for his folk songs and was a member of the Chilean Communist Party.
His widow Joan Turner, an English-born dancer, stood by her husband's coffin and greeted guests who included artists, human rights activists and government officials.
Wilda Garate, a fan of Mr Jara, said the funeral was a much-deserved tribute.
"This reaffirms the people's sentiment towards him," she said
"Remembering him is what keeps him alive and will continue to maintain him alive forever."
Tortured and killed
Victor Jara was among thousands of people rounded up in the early days of Gen Pinochet's right-wing military coup, which ousted the elected leftist President Salvador Allende.
He was taken to the Chile Stadium in Santiago where he was tortured and killed. His broken body was found a few days later.
Authorities reopened the investigation into his death last year, after new evidence was presented by his family.
Earlier this year a former army conscript, Jose Adolfo Paredes Marquez, was charged over the killing. He denies responsibility for Mr Jara's death.
More than 3,000 people were killed or disappeared during the period of military rule in Chile, which lasted from 1973 to 1990.
Source: bbc.co.uk
FACTBOX-Policies of Chile's main presidential candidates
Dec 3 (Reuters) - Chile's presidential election is a three-way race between a conservative billionaire, a former president from the ruling center-left coalition and an ex-film producer running as an independent.
Stocks | Bonds
The two leading candidates in the Dec. 13 election -- center-right businessman Sebastian Pinera, who is tipped to win, and center-left former President Eduardo Frei -- likely will keep the prudent fiscal policies that have made Chile's economy one of Latin America's most stable, analysts say.
But Pinera wants the private sector to take more leadership in stimulating the economy and creating new jobs, while Frei emphasizes the state's role but has not yet announced his economic policy platform.
Left-leaning independent Marco Enriquez-Ominami, 36, has broken away from the ruling coalition and advocates tighter state control over health, education, transport and social security. He also would raise taxes on mining and the corporate sector and lower income tax.
Enriquez-Ominami, who is running third and seen missing a run-off, told Reuters on Thursday he would not forge pacts with leftist rivals seeking to block a Pinera win, which analysts say ultimately could help the right to power. [ID:nN03434892]
The policies of the three main candidates are as follows:
Sebastian Pinera:
* Spur economic growth of 6 percent per year and create 1 million jobs between 2010-2014.
* Give incentives to private sector, particularly small- and mid-sized companies, to fuel job creation and spur economic growth rather than rely on state.
* Allow private pension funds to take up to a combined 20 percent stake in state copper giant Codelco [CODEL.UL].
* Revamp management of state sector giants like Codelco and state-run oil firm ENAP, as well as decentralizing the state.
* Look at merging regulators of the bourse and banks.
* Foster investment in alternative energy sources and mining exploration.
* Offer tax incentives for private miners to develop new technology and expand research.
* Introduce legal rights for same sex couples but oppose gay marriage.
Eduardo Frei:
* Continue with President Michelle Bachelet's welfare programs and expand them to include the middle class.
* Introduce labor reform that would create more unions to include millions of workers who do not benefit from collective wage negotiations.
* Gradually reduce pensioners' public health system contributions from 7 percent.
* Be open to studying alternative energy sources, including nuclear power.
* Make private health providers and pension funds give details on earnings and dividend payments.
* Review a water concession law pitting farming communities against mining companies in the mineral-rich Atacama desert.
* Look at legal rights for same sex couples and open debate on abortion.
Marco Antonio Enriquez-Ominami: [nN03434892]
* Raise royalties on key copper mining sector to 8 percent from 5 percent to collect an extra $400 million a year.
* Tax hydroelectric plants to raise another $450 million and debate raising levies on salmon and forestry industries.
* Raise taxes on companies, alcohol, tobacco and lower the upper limit on individuals' income tax to 30 percent.
* Scrap tax exemptions to bring in $1.5 billion a year.
* Create a state pension fund system.
* Increase state's role in transport, health, housing, education and social security and raise government spending on infrastructure and public works projects.
* Revise rule keeping structural fiscal surplus at 0.5 percent of GDP to 0 percent.
* Open about 5 percent of Codelco to workers and/or an eventual state pension fund.
* Regulate digital television services.
* Allow gay unions.
* Change system of government to Westminster style hybrid, to include president and prime minister.
Source: reuters.com/
Stocks | Bonds
The two leading candidates in the Dec. 13 election -- center-right businessman Sebastian Pinera, who is tipped to win, and center-left former President Eduardo Frei -- likely will keep the prudent fiscal policies that have made Chile's economy one of Latin America's most stable, analysts say.
But Pinera wants the private sector to take more leadership in stimulating the economy and creating new jobs, while Frei emphasizes the state's role but has not yet announced his economic policy platform.
Left-leaning independent Marco Enriquez-Ominami, 36, has broken away from the ruling coalition and advocates tighter state control over health, education, transport and social security. He also would raise taxes on mining and the corporate sector and lower income tax.
Enriquez-Ominami, who is running third and seen missing a run-off, told Reuters on Thursday he would not forge pacts with leftist rivals seeking to block a Pinera win, which analysts say ultimately could help the right to power. [ID:nN03434892]
The policies of the three main candidates are as follows:
Sebastian Pinera:
* Spur economic growth of 6 percent per year and create 1 million jobs between 2010-2014.
* Give incentives to private sector, particularly small- and mid-sized companies, to fuel job creation and spur economic growth rather than rely on state.
* Allow private pension funds to take up to a combined 20 percent stake in state copper giant Codelco [CODEL.UL].
* Revamp management of state sector giants like Codelco and state-run oil firm ENAP, as well as decentralizing the state.
* Look at merging regulators of the bourse and banks.
* Foster investment in alternative energy sources and mining exploration.
* Offer tax incentives for private miners to develop new technology and expand research.
* Introduce legal rights for same sex couples but oppose gay marriage.
Eduardo Frei:
* Continue with President Michelle Bachelet's welfare programs and expand them to include the middle class.
* Introduce labor reform that would create more unions to include millions of workers who do not benefit from collective wage negotiations.
* Gradually reduce pensioners' public health system contributions from 7 percent.
* Be open to studying alternative energy sources, including nuclear power.
* Make private health providers and pension funds give details on earnings and dividend payments.
* Review a water concession law pitting farming communities against mining companies in the mineral-rich Atacama desert.
* Look at legal rights for same sex couples and open debate on abortion.
Marco Antonio Enriquez-Ominami: [nN03434892]
* Raise royalties on key copper mining sector to 8 percent from 5 percent to collect an extra $400 million a year.
* Tax hydroelectric plants to raise another $450 million and debate raising levies on salmon and forestry industries.
* Raise taxes on companies, alcohol, tobacco and lower the upper limit on individuals' income tax to 30 percent.
* Scrap tax exemptions to bring in $1.5 billion a year.
* Create a state pension fund system.
* Increase state's role in transport, health, housing, education and social security and raise government spending on infrastructure and public works projects.
* Revise rule keeping structural fiscal surplus at 0.5 percent of GDP to 0 percent.
* Open about 5 percent of Codelco to workers and/or an eventual state pension fund.
* Regulate digital television services.
* Allow gay unions.
* Change system of government to Westminster style hybrid, to include president and prime minister.
Source: reuters.com/
Chile looks to China's harnessing of solar power: ambassador
BEIJING, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chile has much to learn from China's application of solar energy in its efforts to help curb the effects of climate change, said the Chilean Ambassador to China Wednesday.
Solar energy was applied everywhere in China, in water heaters, and in billboard, street and traffic lights, said ambassador Fernando Reyes Matta.
It was a practice Chile could replicate in its sunshine-rich north, said Reyes Matta.
Both countries had much to learn in exchanges regarding energy allocation and legislation and they should work together to combat climate change.
China announced last week it would reduce the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP in 2020 by 40 to 45 percent compared with the level of 2005.
Reyes Matta said the world needed to put specific targets for emissions reduction on the table, and China's target was welcomed by the world.
"I have seen China's rapid economic development and the pollution it brought. The air in China is much cleaner than four years ago," he said.
The workshop on energy and environment in October, held by the Chilean embassy and the Latin American research center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences marked a beginning of expert exchanges between the two sides, said Reyes Matta.
Source: xinhuanet.com/
Solar energy was applied everywhere in China, in water heaters, and in billboard, street and traffic lights, said ambassador Fernando Reyes Matta.
It was a practice Chile could replicate in its sunshine-rich north, said Reyes Matta.
Both countries had much to learn in exchanges regarding energy allocation and legislation and they should work together to combat climate change.
China announced last week it would reduce the intensity of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP in 2020 by 40 to 45 percent compared with the level of 2005.
Reyes Matta said the world needed to put specific targets for emissions reduction on the table, and China's target was welcomed by the world.
"I have seen China's rapid economic development and the pollution it brought. The air in China is much cleaner than four years ago," he said.
The workshop on energy and environment in October, held by the Chilean embassy and the Latin American research center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences marked a beginning of expert exchanges between the two sides, said Reyes Matta.
Source: xinhuanet.com/
Chile and Argentina, air/11 nights, from $2,165
The Real Deal: Multicity airfare on Aerolineas Argentina, arriving in Santiago, Chile, and departing from Buenos Aires, Argentina; local flights between Santiago and Puerto Montt on Sky Airlines and between Bariloche and Buenos Aires on Aerolineas Argentina; three nights in Santiago at Hotel Galerias, two in Puerto Montt at Hotel Don Luis, one at Hotel Natura Patagonia during the bus/boat lake crossing from Puerto Montt to Bariloche, two in Bariloche at Hotel Nahuel Huapi, and three in Buenos Aires at the Dazzler Libertad Hotel, breakfast daily except at Hotel Natura Patagonia; all transfers; hotel taxes; and fuel surcharges, from $2,165 per person—plus estimated airport taxes and fees of $140.
When: Jan. 14, 2010; other travel dates may be available through January.
Gateways: Miami; add $67 for New York City, $73 for L.A., $167 for Chicago, $214 for Seattle, $284 for Atlanta, $288 for Denver, $316 for Houston; additional gateways available.
Source: msnbc.msn.com/i
When: Jan. 14, 2010; other travel dates may be available through January.
Gateways: Miami; add $67 for New York City, $73 for L.A., $167 for Chicago, $214 for Seattle, $284 for Atlanta, $288 for Denver, $316 for Houston; additional gateways available.
Source: msnbc.msn.com/i
Chile: Humberto Suazo is Key to Cup Chances
As hosts of the World Cup in 1962 Chile managed to make their mark and leave a nasty stain.
Their achievement was in reaching the semi-finals of the tournament, a feat never matched by them before or since. The stain was the brutality of some of their performances.
They kicked out at the superior Brazilians in losing the semi-final 4-2 and their antics in the 2-0 win over Italy in the group game dubbed the 'Battle of Santiago' remain an all-time World Cup low.
The referee, Ken Aston, is credited with later introducing the idea of red and yellow cards, and the Italy clash was probably where he found his inspiration. Aston sent off two Italians, but there could easily have been many more dismissals from both sides as the fists and feet flew.
To concentrate on football matters, this was the last time Chile won a group game at the World Cup. They went on to beat the Soviet Union in the quarter-finals, but then fell to Brazil, the eventual winners, in another physical contest that ended with two players being dismissed.
In 1966 Chile drew with North Korea but lost against Italy and the Soviet Union. In 1974 they drew with East Germany and Australia before losing to West Germany and in 1982 they lost to Algeria, Austria and West Germany.
In 1998 Chile progressed to the knockout stages, where they were beaten by Brazil, but they got there with successive draws against Italy, Austria and Cameroon.
In 1990 and 1994 they were absent from the tournament, the consequence of a bizarre chain of events when they met Brazil in a qualifier at the Maracana in September 1989.
Needing to win to preserve their hopes of qualification, Chile were trailing 1-0 when a firework was thrown on to the pitch. The Chilean keeper, Roberto Rojas, collapsed to the ground, apparently with a cut to his head. His team-mates refused to continue and the match was abandoned, with the Chilean officials demanding a replay.
But investigations revealed Rojas had been unhurt until he deliberately cut himself. He received a life ban, which was later lifted. The match was awarded to Brazil, signalling the elimination of Chile, who were also disqualified from the 1994 World Cup.
Brazil's dominance continued through the qualifying group for 2010 as they inflicted two of Chile's five defeats. But a strong second half to the campaign took the Chileans through. After losing four of the first nine games, they won six and drew two of the last nine, crucially overcoming Argentina and Paraguay to take second place on goal difference.
They show a talent for beating the lesser teams and occasionally springing a surprise against better opposition, while in Humberto Suazo they also have the top scorer in the South American qualifying group - and that combination should again take them beyond the group stage in South Africa.
IN A NUTSHELL
So near...
The kids are all right - free-scoring Chile lead the South American charge to the quarter-finals.
Yet so far...
The competition is too hot for Chile, whose failure shows there are only two South American sides who have what it takes to win modern World Cups.
Will be remembered for...
Good football, some tough tactics and maybe achieving more than any Chile side since 1962.
Stat attack
With 10 goals, Chile's Humberto Suazo was the top scorer in the South American qualifying group.
Key player
All eyes will be on Suazo. If he can reproduce the scoring form from the qualifiers and from his club matches in Mexico with Monterrey, then Chile could extend their stay in South Africa.
The Boss
The high point of Marcelo Bielsa's reign - in addition to qualifying - was the win over his native Argentina. He gives youth a chance and is known to prefer an attacking style. But he is also known as 'The Madman' because of his disciplinarian nature and obsession with detail; press conferences have been known to last longer than matches!
Odds: 50-1
Colours: Red shirts, blue shorts
Nickname: La Roja (The Red One)
Official website: www.anfp.cl
Last competitive match
Santiago - 14 October, 2009
Chile 1 Ecuador 0
Scorer: Suazo (53)
Line-up:
1 Claudio Bravo (C)
3 Waldo Ponce
4 Roberto Cereceda (2 Ismael Fuentes, 76)
5 Rodrigo Millar
7 Alexis Sanchez
8 Arturo Vidal (18 Gonzalo Jara, 67)
9 Humberto Suazo
10 Jorge Valdivia
15 Jean Beausehour (11 Esteban Paredes, 31)
16 Manuel Iturra
17 Gary Medel
Subs not used:
6 Gonzalo Fierro
12 Miguel Pinto
13 Hector Mancilla
14 Rodrigo Tello
Qualifying record
2nd, South American Group
Campaign in full
Argentina 2 Chile 0
Chile 2 Peru 0
Uruguay 2 Chile 2
Chile 0 Paraguay 3
Bolivia 0 Chile 2
Venezuela 2 Chile 3
Chile 0 Brazil 3
Chile 4 Colombia 0
Ecuador 1 Chile 0
Chile 1 Argentina 0
Peru 1 Chile 3
Chile 0 Uruguay 0
Paraguay 0 Chile 2
Chile 4 Bolivia 0
Chile 2 Venezuela 2
Brazil 4 Chile 2
Colombia 2 Chile 4
Chile 1 Ecuador 0
Leading scorer
10 - Humberto Suazo
World Cup pedigree
Third place - 1962
Second round - 1998
First round - 1930, 1950, 1966, 1974, 1982
Fifa world ranking: 17
Our prediction
Should reach the second round. After that it's up to Suazo.
Source: fanhouse.co.uk/
Chile’s Navy Suspends Esmeralda Departure Following Arrest Of Four Retired Officials
Two former vice admirals charged for human rights violations allegedly occurring onboard the flagship
Chile's navy on Wednesday postponed the launch of its iconic flagship “Esmeralda” after 12 men, including four retired senior navy officers, were arrested for torture and kidnapping charges that allegedly occurred aboard the Esmeralda in the days immediately following Chile’s Sept. 11, 1973 military coup.
The Esmeralda was due to embark for Brazil on Wednesday to represent Chile at an international regatta, but Defense Minister Francisco Vidal decided to postpone the voyage given the ship’s direct connection to the case.
“We have great respect for human rights issues,” said navy spokesman Rodolfo Besoain. “And though the timing is inconvenient, we have to respect the decision of the courts.”
Valparaiso Judge Eliana Victoria Quezada ordered the arrest of the 12 former navy men on Monday. Among those arrested are two former vice admirals - Sergio Barra Von Krechtsman and Juan McKay Barriga - as well retired naval captain Ricardo Riesco Cornejo.
The Esmeralda is one of the world’s most elegant frigate sailing vessels and is the pride of Chile's naval fleet, representing the country as a good will ambassador on overseas tours for decades.
But the vessel’s the link to human rights abuses occurring in the weeks following Chile’s 9/11/73 military coup considerably tarnished its image and – during the Pinochet dictatorship and many years thereafter – made it a target for Chileans forced to live abroad because of the Pinochet dictatorship.
Worse, for years Chile’s navy doggedly refused to acknowledge that their flagship was used as a torture chamber during the early days of the Pinochet regime.
In 2003 the ship was refused entry to ports in Sweden, Holland and Spain after protests by Chilean exile groups and human rights organizations. In 2004 Amnesty International called for the Esmeralda's decommissioning due to her involvement in human rights cases (ST. March 17, 2004).
Although over 100 people were allegedly imprisoned on board the Esmeralda after the coup, the still unsolved death of British-Chilean priest Michael Woodward is the case that has drawn the most international publicity - and the most bad press for the Esmeralda.
In 2008 Judge Quezada ordered the arrest of six naval other officers on murder charges, although the men were subsequently released due to a lack of evidence (ST. March 15, 2008).
But prosecution may be easier this time, following the confession of a former second in command on the Esmeralda who admitted that Woodward had been killed on the vessel after several hours of torture (ST. Oct 15, 2008).
The government has yet to decide whether or not the Esmeralda will make the voyage to Brazil, where the regatta will assemble in early February to celebrate the bicentenary of the independence of various South American countries.
Twelve ships representing eleven different countries were to have embarked upon a four month tour of the continent, which included dockings at the Chilean ports of Punta Arenas, Talcahuano and Valparaiso through March and April next year.
Source: santiagotimes.cl/
Chile's navy on Wednesday postponed the launch of its iconic flagship “Esmeralda” after 12 men, including four retired senior navy officers, were arrested for torture and kidnapping charges that allegedly occurred aboard the Esmeralda in the days immediately following Chile’s Sept. 11, 1973 military coup.
The Esmeralda was due to embark for Brazil on Wednesday to represent Chile at an international regatta, but Defense Minister Francisco Vidal decided to postpone the voyage given the ship’s direct connection to the case.
“We have great respect for human rights issues,” said navy spokesman Rodolfo Besoain. “And though the timing is inconvenient, we have to respect the decision of the courts.”
Valparaiso Judge Eliana Victoria Quezada ordered the arrest of the 12 former navy men on Monday. Among those arrested are two former vice admirals - Sergio Barra Von Krechtsman and Juan McKay Barriga - as well retired naval captain Ricardo Riesco Cornejo.
The Esmeralda is one of the world’s most elegant frigate sailing vessels and is the pride of Chile's naval fleet, representing the country as a good will ambassador on overseas tours for decades.
But the vessel’s the link to human rights abuses occurring in the weeks following Chile’s 9/11/73 military coup considerably tarnished its image and – during the Pinochet dictatorship and many years thereafter – made it a target for Chileans forced to live abroad because of the Pinochet dictatorship.
Worse, for years Chile’s navy doggedly refused to acknowledge that their flagship was used as a torture chamber during the early days of the Pinochet regime.
In 2003 the ship was refused entry to ports in Sweden, Holland and Spain after protests by Chilean exile groups and human rights organizations. In 2004 Amnesty International called for the Esmeralda's decommissioning due to her involvement in human rights cases (ST. March 17, 2004).
Although over 100 people were allegedly imprisoned on board the Esmeralda after the coup, the still unsolved death of British-Chilean priest Michael Woodward is the case that has drawn the most international publicity - and the most bad press for the Esmeralda.
In 2008 Judge Quezada ordered the arrest of six naval other officers on murder charges, although the men were subsequently released due to a lack of evidence (ST. March 15, 2008).
But prosecution may be easier this time, following the confession of a former second in command on the Esmeralda who admitted that Woodward had been killed on the vessel after several hours of torture (ST. Oct 15, 2008).
The government has yet to decide whether or not the Esmeralda will make the voyage to Brazil, where the regatta will assemble in early February to celebrate the bicentenary of the independence of various South American countries.
Twelve ships representing eleven different countries were to have embarked upon a four month tour of the continent, which included dockings at the Chilean ports of Punta Arenas, Talcahuano and Valparaiso through March and April next year.
Source: santiagotimes.cl/
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