SECJCET
Chilei Major Prisoner Release
The military government's decision on November 6 to releaseersons Imprisoned under the state of siegeajor gesture designed to diminish international criticism of Chile's violation of human rights.
in making theunta spokesman said that thether political prisoners "too dangerous to be freed in Chile" would be expelled if another country would accept them. The spokesman said two other prlsoneis--Communist party chief Luis Corvalan and former Allende coalition aenstor Jorgebe released only If the USSR and Cuba would reciprocate by freeing two prominent prisoners. The Chileans called on world opinion to pressure the USSR and Cuba to take such reciprocal action.
Theecision does not affect those Chileans who have been charged, convicted bytribunals and jailed, nor those Individuals detained by security forces but not officially'I I1 * I
By nearly aweepingjails clear of those still held in preventive detention, the Pinochet government probably expects to lessen the impactritical report recently circulated by the UM humangroup and hopes toits image with the new US administration. The government's action alsoacit admission that internal security is noroblem. Any new roundup of "subversives" would be difficult for the government to justify and would immediately elicit another wave of International condemnation.
Original document.
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