MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile: Breaking News.

Headlines:

Howard Drake next British Ambassador in Chile; Record lamb killing year for Magallanes Region; One out of three Chilean households, victim of crime;
Chilean primary debate in Punta Arenas.

Howard Drake next British Ambassador in Chile

Mr. Howard Drake, OBE, has been appointed Her Majesty's Ambassador to Chile in succession of Mr. Richard Wilkinson CVO who will be retiring form the British diplomatic service. Ambassador Drake will take up his appointment September 2005. He was in Santiago before as second Secretary Chancery from 1985 to 1988. Howard Ronald Drake, 49, is married to Gillian and they have a son and daughter. He is currently Assistant Director of the FCO Human Resources Directorate having served from 1997 to 2002 in New York as Deputy Consul General & Director of Inward Investment. Other posts include European Community Department, 1988-1990; FCO Southern European Department 1990-1992; Head of Chancery in Singapore, 1992-1995 and Deputy Head of the Counter Proliferation Department 1995-97. His firs overseas post was in Los Angeles, 1981-1983 as Vice Consul, Commercial.

Record lamb killing year for Magallanes Region

Magallanes Region slaughtered 466.390 lambs in 2004, the highest figure since 1977, reported Chile's regional Agriculture Ministry representative Juan Jose Romero who added that this represents a 8,9% increase over the previous year. Total (all categories) ovine slaughters reached 625.568 in 2004, which is equivalent to a 9,8% advance over 2003. Mr. Romero pointed out that genetic and pasture improvement, plus recovery of eroded paddocks and irrigation have had an impact in the record year for the ovine industry in Magallanes Region. Mario Vega, president of Magallanes Region farmers association basically agreed with Mr. Romero considering the figures "reliable", although pointing out he would prefer the "ovine" year to extend from July to June, instead of January-December, because it better adapts to the industry's cycle. Similarly he did not share Mr. Romero's enthusiasm about last year's evolution or the alleged reasons for the "record" year.

One out of three Chilean households, victim of crime

Even when overall delinquency in Chile ceased to grow in 2004 and stabilized in the 2003 level, a family member in one out of three households has been the victim of a theft in the last six months, according to Fundacion Paz Ciudadana an organization which keeps statistical track of crime related affairs in the country. The latest report indicates that the 37,1% of households which suffered some type of crime in November 2004 is slightly higher than in 2002, and in 21% of households some family member has been victimized more than once in the last six months. A total of over 4 million crimes were reported in 2004, alleges Paz Ciudadana, with Talca the city most affected and Punta Arenas the one with fewer crimes reported. Santiago is somewhere in the middle of the list that includes all main Chilean cities. Regarding robberies in households and automobile accessories Chile figures with Paraguay among the worst cases with an 8,2 rating. The lowest are Finland and France with 0,3 and 1, followed by Japan and Switzerland, both with 1,1. As to robberies involving violence or intimidation, Chile is among the lowest in Latinamerica but far from the rates in developed countries. Chile figures with a 4 rating compared to Brazil's 11,3 and Colombia's 10,6, but far from Japan and North Ireland, 0,1 and United States and Finland with 0,6. Another interesting data is that the number of arrests by Carabineros in 2004 remained stable, but increased 14% regarding crimes of "greater social impact". Apparently 45% of these crimes refer to "shoplifting" particularly in supermarkets.

Chilean primary debate in Punta Arenas

Chile's ruling coalition pre-candidates will be holding a regional debate in Punta Arenas next July 21 as part of an agenda of encounters to decide who will represent Concertación Democrática in the coming December presidential elections. The round of debates between former Socialist Defence Secretary Michelle Bachelet who is leading in public opinion polls and Christian Democrat former Foreign Affairs Secretary Soledad Alvear, is scheduled to begin in Concepción next April 27 and end in Santiago July 27. The following Sunday July 31 the primaries will be held. "The debate will also be a dialogue since a panel of citizens will be nominated to question the pre-candidates", said Socialist Deputy Pedro Muñoz member of the joint committee responsible for the organization of the round of debates. "Punta Arenas will be particularly important since the event takes place in the last leg of the primary campaign, ten days before voting day", he added, although admitting that the format and characteristics of each debate have still to be arranged. Deputy Muñoz also called on all interested primary voters to register since April is the closing month. Socialists are senior partners of the Chilean ruling coalition which also includes Christian Democrats and smaller factions. Next December Chileans will vote for the successor of President Ricardo Lagos who took office March 2000 for a six year mandate.