CHILE: HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATORS PUNISHED

Created: 5/5/1976

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

Chllei Human Rights Violators Punished

There is growing evidence that the Chilean ia taking stronger awasures toof its security forces tor human

military tribunaia have been conducting secret La reeulting in the court martial of military personnel and carablneros charged withand in scate caaes

The top army commander for the SantiagoRolando Garay, who alao servos aafor the capital,has heard some

caaoe and is preparing ToTrWeW others. Garayhaa been praaaedroup of army generals to explore with Prealdent Pinochet the possibility of publicizing the cases to demonstrate the regime's ein-cerlty in safeguarding human rights.

Public knowledge of the trials would have aome poaitive implicationa abroad, where Chile'e image hasharp decline because of the human rights situation. On the other hand it mightandora' box bylaring light on epeciflrj inatancea of grave abuae of power by armed forces andpersonnel aince the3 coup. In fact, officials are probably justified in their fears that outsiders might dig deeper into tho evidence andeb of officially condoned violations that could implicate some in high places as well asthe morsle of security forces.

May6

It is still too early to determine whether the Pinochet regime has pulled out all stops to endof prisoners, but word of tha trials ia likely to have some remedial effects