LATIN AMERICA BRIEF 17 AUGUST 1977 - PRESIDENT PINOCHET'S DECISION TO ABOLISH T

Created: 8/17/1977

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTORATE <DINA> APPEARS TOENUINE EFFORT TO CURTAIL HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AND NOT JUST ANOTHER COSMETIC FIX- ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT'S ASSURANCES CANNOT ALWAYST FACEINOCHET HAS BEEN UNDER STRONG PRESSURE FROM CIVILIAN AND MILITARY ADVISERS TO CLIP DINA'S UlNGS./^

//THE NEW GUIDELINES SUGGEST THAT MOST OF DINA'S PERSONNEL ILL BE ABSORBEDATIONAL INFORMATION CENTER TO BE CREATED UNDER THE INTERIOR MINISTRY* ADDITIONALLY. DINA'S ARREST AND DETENTION POWERS ARE Br.ING TRANSFERRED RESPECTIVELY. TO THE NATIONAL POLICE CCARABINEROS) AND TO THE JUDICIAL POLICE UNDER THE DEFENSE MINISTRY. WHILE ILLEGAL ACTIVITY IS STILL POSSIBLE UNDER THIS ARRANGEMENT. IT IS OUR JUDGMENT THAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR REPRESSIVE PRACTICES WILL BE 6REATLY REDUCED:/^

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NEW AGENCY APPARENTLY MILL NOT REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE

OTH THE CARABINEROS AND THE JUDICIAL POLICE ARE HIGHLY REGARDED* PROFESSIONAL LAW-ENFORCEMENT'Bf

THAT THE MARXIST THREAT TO HIS REGIME HAS DIMINISHED SIGNIFICANTLY./f|

//IF THE ORGANIZATION REPLACING DINA IS RESTRICTED SOLELY TO INFORMATION GATHERING--AND THE PRESIDENT FOLLOWS UP ON PLANS TO REDUCE THE STATE OF SIEGE AND LIFT THE CURFEW* BOTH OF WHICH HE CLAIMS ARE NOW BEINGMOVES TO LIBERALIZE THE REGIME MAYSIBLE-/H1

//THE DIRECTION TAKEN BY PINOCHET DURING THE PAST MONTH REFLECTS AN AWARENESS THAT OTHER MILITARY GOVERNMENTS IN SOUTH AMERICA ARE FORMULATING PLANS TO RETURN TO CIVILIAN RULE. THE DEBATE STIMULATED BY THIS TREND IS LIKELY TO SUSTAIN MOMENTUM FOR POLITICAL CHANCE IN CHILE- MOST CHILEANS APPEAR TO BE GRATIFUD AND ENCOURAGED BY SIGNS THAT THE MILITARY AT LAST IS MODIFYING THE MOST SEVERE ASPECTS OF REPRESSION. EVEN FORMER PRESIDENT FREI* LEADER OF THE COUNTRY'S

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POLITICAL PARTYERVENT CRITIC OFTHAT THE DISSOLUTION OF DINA RIGHTOSITIVEESPITE OFFICIAL DISCLAIMERS TO THE CONTRARY, SANTIAGO HAS MADE SUBSTANTIAL CONCESSIONS TO MEET US RECOMMENDATIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS IMPROVEMENTS. THIS LATEST SHIFTEEP-SEATED REALIZATION BY GOVERNMENT LEADERS THAT IMPROVEMENT OF RELATIONS UITH THE,USIGH PRIORITY IF CHILE IS TO MAKE ANY PROGRESS IN ENDING THE OPPROBRIUM OF UHICH IT HASARGET SINCE THE MILITARY TAKEOVER IN- THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ABOLITION OF DINA BURINgTsECRETARY TODMAN'S VISIT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN DESIGNED

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Original document.

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