At least two new arrests lave been mase in Chile for every dernines in recent months, according to a repart last week by the International Commission al Jurists.
This blows sky-high Pinochet's clairo on the anniversary of the coup that the policy of repression would be relaxed, wtin the replacement of the state of war by a 'state of siege". Unnoticed at the time, the junta had se fact issued a now decree the day before ruling that in future the provisions of military justice in time of war would apply to a 'state of siege". In other words-au change.
The iC reports that in fact political repression in Chile is Doo more ubiquitous and more aystematic than at any time since the coup d'ecar, It states that it has information confirmJog oo less than 600 addirional arrests since the death of MiR leader Miguel Enriques on 5 October.
This exposure of the 'show and the reality", as the ICS report is called, indicates the real ex lent of the problems now faced by the janta.
It is desperate to improve its in ternational image, in order to fend oll diplomatic and arnis boycotts such as that now threatened by the US Senate. John Marston Yet so weak is its posi next few months. tian internally that threadbare gest wros are in practice all it can afford.
The worsening economic situntJon has already led it to make furlher slasting attacks on the workers standard of living-at the beginning of Ocrober price rises were annound of 52 per cent for bread, 67 percent for milk, and 31.5 per can only be carried through under conditions of the utmost repression.
These increasing restraints oo the Juila s freedom of action slow juse how great can be the impuct of solidarity actions on the situation in the Red Weekly