DROP IN MIL SUPPORT FOR PPINOCHET RE LETELIER

Created: 4/21/1978

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

i, RMY LEAOERS AND GOVERNMENT FU"CTLSO CR1MCIZE0 THE AMNESTY ANNOUNCED St THE GOVERNMENT. THEY F'P^ESSEO THE OPINION THAT THE AMNESTYGOVERNMENT IN THE FACE OF RESULTING FRO*MVEST1CATION INTO THE LETELIER ASSASSINATION, TMEy BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAVED IN" TO PRESSUPt FROH. GOVERNMENTESULTANT LOSS OF INDEPENDENCE. THEY ALSO EXPRESSED THE OPINION THAT THE AMNESTY isQULOOT OF PROBLEMS BECAUSE MtRxiST ELEMENTS ANO OTHER RAOICALS "OULO BECOME POLITMCLLY ACTIVE ONCE AGAIN,

a*

BRIEFEO

IN TME AMNESTY, THET TOLO THE GROUP THAT THERE *ERE THREE BASIC REASONS FOR TAXINGEASURE:

I-PROVE CHILE'S INTERNATIONAL IMAGE.

REDUCE INTERNAL POLITICAL UNREST ANO DEVELOPPEACEFUL INTERNAL CLIMATE,

1

c. void ant trials affectingpersonnel or members of chilean security servicescouloccuseo of being involved in political incioemiiast several tears.

""comment: this last point mas clearly 0ES1CNED to protect people involved in any illegal oina operations. other THAN possible involvement IN the letelier assass1na tI on, aHICH kAS

spec:fic*lly excludede amnesty.

b. arge influential civilian supporters op the government, incluoinc former conservative politicians ano leading professionals ano businessmen, are critical of recent actions takenresident pinochet as being too openly oesigneo to cuhrt favor hith. government,

GENERAL 5 AND TOOC. GENERALPROSABLV *PULO BEI ACCEPTABLENG THIS GROUP TO OTHER MILITARYNO TO CIVILIAN SUPPORTERS OF GOVERNMENT.)

10. tUSST COMMENT! FOP EMBASSY ANALYSIS OF SUBJECT Stt 8 TELOF

SPECIFICALLY, REGAROING THIS REPORT, hOULO LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT BR AO Yf I PERSONALLY PIQUED AT PINOCHET, ISARDLINER.HE hOULD ALSO LIKE TO UNOEHLINE THAT THE RECENT AMNESTY SEEHS TO BE DESIGNED TO ALSO PREVENT FUTURE TALK OF ANY MILITART ACCUSEO OF *UROER OR TORTURE BETWEEN SEPTE8ER 3 ANO APRIL

Original document.

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