A good run down of things from a friend in Chile. Please share!
Tom
>X-POP3-Rcpt: tkruse at albatros.cnb.net
>Return-Path: <ttricot at agata.ecored.cl>
>Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1998 18:20:35 -0300
>X-Sender: ttricot at agata.ecored.cl
>To: Thomas Kruse <tkruse at albatros.cnb.net>
>From: CSA Chile <ttricot at agata.ecored.cl>
>Subject: PINOSHIT UPDATE
>
>Estimado: Thanks a lot for all your e- mails concerning Pinoshit. We need
>all the support and solidarity we can get in this difficult moment we are
>going through. And it is a VERY difficult time, believe me. The Armed Forces
>are in ""estado de alerta" , which means that their personnel have to be
>available at all times, 24 hours a day.The next step is "acuartelamiento"
>which means all personnel confined to barracks, wearing combat gear and
>ready for action. We in Chile know all too well what this means also. The
>army, of course, denies any rumours of a coup d'etat, stating that all
>those movement of troops that can be seen throughout the country, are
>nothing but normal military manouvres for this time of the year. Again, we
>know quite well what "normal" means for the military: their normality is
>war, death and violence. For us normality is peace, justice and freedom. The
>two just don't go together, they never have in Latinamerica and they never
>will, for the current Armed Forces are the same ones that tortured and
>killed our peoples for decades. It is the same mentality, the same hatred
>and despise for human life and human rights.
>
>But it is not only the military which are threathening our fragile and very
>peculiar "democradura". No, it is also the Right and local businessmen, the
>true owners of this lovely piece of land with a view to the ocean. Also the
>government which, in an incredible submissive sold out to the military, have
>done more to defend Pinochet' rights than for his thousands of victims.
>Magic realism, another Macondo without Maurico Babilonia and his yellow
>buterflies or simply the cruel reality of a transitional process aborted at
>birth. Yes, because our "democracy" was negotiated with the military, but
>unfortunately for our people, the military negotiators proved to be a lot
>more cunning and powerful than part of the civilian opposition at the time
>of the negotiations (1988). The result ? Well, in exchange from Pinochet's
>decision to step down from office (not power), the coalition of parties that
>negotiated with the armed forces (Christian Democrats, Socialists and
>Radicals ( the last two are socialdemocratic parties) accepted the 1980
>constitution, enacted and imposed by the dictatorship, the economic model,
>the institution of designated senators, the National Security Council, where
>the Armed Forces are majority, the electoral system, designed to guarantee
>rightwing parties at least 50% of seats in parliament with less than one
>third of the vote. They also accepted the 1978 Amnesty Law that makes it
>impossible to bring anyone responsible for violation of human rights to
>justice. They accepted impunity and forwent any aspiration to justice.
>
>In short, everything changed so that everything remained the same. The last
>two civilian governmens have done nothing but administer dictatorial
>institutions. This is what we call a "democradura", a cross between a
>democracy and a dictatorship. An institutional bastard, a hideous and
>dangerous monster, ready to pounce on innocent victims wherever and whenever
>it feels threatened. Like now when, in the name of national sovereignty,
>territorial integrity, international law and national dignity, the monster
>has shown its true face. It is vomiting fire because that's its nature, it
>is threatening violence, because that's its nature. Of course, no one talks
>about a coup, they just say that if Pinochet continues in prison the
>system's stability is at risk. If the general is not released immediately,
>they cannot guarantee the stability of the transitional process. It sounds
>familiar, doesn't it?
>
>Well, there are a few positive things about the dictator's detention in
>London, for, whatever happens in the next few days, nothing will ever be the
>same in Chile again.
>
>1) For the first time all those who tried to bury the past and move forward
>without justice being done for the victims of the repression, have realised
>that it is not as simply as they thought it would be to kill thousands of
>humans beings and get away with it.
>
>2) Many Chileans, for the first time, have realised something we have been
>saying for over ten years now: Pinochet and the army are still in power in
>this country.
>
>3) The government has also shown its true essence. To the country's
>embarrassment and to the Right's delight, it has passionately defended the
>dictator arguing reasons of sovereignty and patriotism.
>
>4) Once again, when it comes to issues of strategic importance, the
>Christian Democrats have allied themselves with the Right and the Army. In
>this sense, there has been a re-edition of the balance of power and
>political alliances of 25 years ago when the Christian Democrats united with
>the Right in order to overthrow the government of Salvador Allende.
>
>5) Pro-Pinochet demonstrations have not been repressed by the police. At the
>most, they have used a little water to disperse demonstrators.It is only a
>game. On the other hand, demonstrations against Pinochet have been repressed
>by the police, using watercannons, teargas and extreme violence. Ordinary
>people have been able to witness the police's behaviour and are becoming
>increasingly aware of the police's and governmen't partiality over the whole
>issue.
>
>6) Pro Pinochet supporters have beaten up several Spanisn citizens, the
>municipality of Las Condes has refused to collect garbage from the Spanish
>and Bristish embassies, Rightwing senators refuse to attend congress
>sessions until Pinochet is released. Recently, teachers ended a six week
>long strike. Their employers are refusing to pay them the hours they were on
>strike. I just wonder whether Congres will refuse to pay the senators'
>salaries or not since they haven't been working?
>
>7) There is also an increasing awareness that social mobilization is the
>only way to stop another coup. The government fear the people. There was a
>demonstration planned for today, but the Government and the Christian
>democrats refused to take part in it if the Communists took part in the
>march. Who the hell do they think they are? How can they talk about
>democracy if they are defending Pinochet and preventing our people from
>expressing their hapinnes with the dictator's detention? Then of course, it
>shouldn't surprise us at all, after all, it was the Christian Democrats who
>organised the coup in the first place.
>
>8) Finally, it must be said, that the majority of our people wants to see
>Pinochet brought to justice either here or in Spain.
>
>It is highly unlikely that the House of Lords will allow Pinochet to be
>extradited to Spain, but it's still a possibility.If he goes to Spain to
>face trial, the army here will no doubt stage some sort of display of force
>in order to get the government to do something more for the general and, of
>course to put pressure on Spain and International opinion. Put somewhat
>differently: The armed forces will "kidnap" our transition" and demand as
>ramson to liberate it unharmed the immediate and unconditional freedom of
>general Pinochet.
>
>Also, it is clear that the Armed Forces are preparing other forms of covert
>action, perhaps the abduction of Spanish or British citizens, the killing of
>a few prominent politicians or social personalities. Anything to let the
>world know that they mean business. It is also clear that the role played by
>the Unites States here is crucial. Isn't it funny (or sad) how history
>repeats itself. Nearly three decades ago the United States played the
>determining role in the overthrow of president Salvador Allende. Now, they
>can be instrumental in deterring the army from staging another coup or
>embarking upon some other kind of dangerous adventure. Not because the
>United States believe in democracy (there are hundreds of examples in
>Latinamerica and throughout the world to prove the opposite), but simply
>because the dictatorial project is no longer politically viable in Chile.
>After all they have a dictatorship without a dictator, what more can they
>ask for?
>
>We´ll see what happens, in the meantime we will continue working so that
>justice may at last be done, not only in Chile, but also in Argentina,
>Paraguay and Bolivia.
>
>Un abrazo fuerte a todos por allá. Tito.
Tom Kruse / Casilla 5812 / Cochabamba, Bolivia Tel/Fax: (591-4) 248242 Email: tkruse at albatros.cnb.net