HUMAN RIGHTS DEVELOPMENTS

Created: 3/30/1978

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

Latin America Weekly Review

Human Rights Developments

Chlloi The Pinochet government's decision toCarlos Lozo, who served as Central Bankevidently is aimed at im-

proving Chile's human rights image. The commutation ofyear jail sentence to exile was made at the behestisiting Spanish Foreign Ministry official.

There has been much speculation lately in Santiago of an impending large-scale release of important persons jailed following the coup, while the government claimso political priaonors remain untried, it hastheir statusiecemeal basis and released some former officials convicted by military tribunals-Continuing displays of bcnovolonco at this time indicate growing government Jitters about the damaging impact of the investigation of the Letelier assassination.

Possibly emboldened by tho government's unease, opposition Christian Democrats are preparing to challenge the emergency powers implemented when tho state of siege was dropped earlior this month. Exiled party ideologue, Jaime Castillo, who was expelled summarily inlans to return to Chile from Caracas soon. Castillo's arrival would raise some sticky logal problems for the government,rusque attempt at expulsion would not only bring fresh charges of human rights violations but would test government Intentions under the lower level state of jmcrgency.

Haiti: Haitian justicemall step forward last week with the unprecedented sentencing of aofficer and two militiamen for their mistreatment of civilians. Lt. Claude Rcny was sentenced to six years hard labor and discharged from the Army for tho shooting of engineer Jacques Cadet. This was the hotheaded Remy's third such offonso. Two members of the militia received

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of tour months in Jail for the beating ofpublisher Pastor Luc Neree. They have already served three months of their jail term. Remy, because of his friendship with President Duvaliar, may beearly under one of the President's annual amnes-tios. Dospita the light sentences, these trials may servearning to others and strengthen the hand of the more liberal members of the_ security establishment in dealing with such abuses. H