NID - CHILE: PROTEST DEMONSTRATIONS

Created: 8/8/1985

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

POOS ORIGINAL

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The main opposition parlies, together with labor and Church groups, areajor antiregime protest for tomorrow In central Santiago, according to press reports. Parly leaders from far letl to tar right, who signed an unprecedented ioint statement on Tuesday pledging to cooperate in restoring democracy, plan to stage weekly demonstrations through mid-September. Clashes between demonstrators and police have broken out each day since last week, and President Pinochet has threatened the "most drastic measures" to maintain order.I

Comment: Moderates are capitalizing on the regime's embarrassmentecent police death squad scandal to try to overcome their yearlong disarray. Their nonviolenl protests are aimed at forcing Pinochet to relax his harsh policies and to speed up the transition to civilian rule. The Communists aro eager to collaborate with tha moderates, but they also intend to continue lerrorist actions. Tomorrow's demonstration probably will be substantially larger than any since last fall, and violence, including injuriestalit.es, Is likely.

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