MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Breaking News from South America.

British priest killed in Pinochet's timeAnother legal demand for murder and kidnapping against former president Augusto Pinochet was presented by relatives and friends of the British priest Michael Woodward who according to the plaintiffs allegedly was tortured to death on the Chilean Navy's school vessel, "La Esmeralda", September 22nd. 1973. According to lawyer Sergio Concha the demand was presented in the Santiago Appeals Court where most cases of disappeared detainees are being considered. Details of Mr. Woodward's disappearance and killing were revealed in a book, "Blood in the Esmeralda" written by Edward Crouzet and published last year. "He died under torture in the "Esmeralda" six or seven hours after having been arrested. There were no charges, no judicial process, nothing, he was just tortured and beaten to death", indicated Mr. Concha. The lawyer said that in the case are more details and names of how Mr. Wooward was taken from his house and finally dumped into a common grave in Playa Ancha cemetery. Mr. Concha said that Mr. Woodward was involved in community activities in the town of Progreso, a very humble area of Santiago. "Chiefs of area, intelligence officers, marines who made the arrest and naval officers from La Esmeralda were involved in the kidnapping and killing", underlined Mr. Concha.

Argentina inspects fish plants

An Argentine sanitary delegation will be inspecting this week Chilean fish processing plants that export to Argentina. The first stage of this regular inspection involves ten plants in different regions of Chile and represent a significant percentage of Chilean fisheries exports. "These are strictly technical and regular inspections, which I imagine will confirm the strict sanitary conditions of our industry", said Mr. Sergio Mujica head of the Chilean Fisheries National Service. Although Argentina is undergoing very difficult moments, it has always been a strong market for Chilean fisheries. During the first ten months of 2001, Chile exported to Argentina 9,742 tons of fish produce equivalent to 17 million US dollars, mostly fresh salmon and other conserved and pickled species.

Third of Chilean children in poverty

A