ChileY How Crist
Human Rights Celtic*
B 8 Th*overnstent's expulsion of arecently talkedisiting -S
delectation eeena certain to provoke an adverse re-aotlon abroad. The lawyer, Jose Salaquett, departed for Pranco on Aprilftor the courts turned down his appeal to overturn the order. j,
The Chilean [foreign Kinistry has fervently denied any'link between Xalaquett's meeting withand hie expulsion on grounds that hehreat to internal security. Officials in Santiago had earlier given aaaurances to our einbsssy that there would be no retcllation against persons who mot with the US, j i I I -
Ihe vague reasoning behind the government'ssuggests that concrete evldene- in the oase ie lacking, nevertheless, it lo possible that the attorney waa engaged In political activities considered illegal by the Junta, zalaguett hed earlier been instrmaentel in contesting alleged violations of human right* for the Interdenominational Coaralttoe tve Peace, which wa* uis-solved last December after the government charged that it we* influenced by leftist*. Bo had been arrested in Boveaeaer and spent the noxt two month* inmove that US official* In Santiago have interpretedtern wsrnlng that he *houlo get outhe -wintry.
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The Chilean court upheld the Junta'* expulsion order, a* it ha* done in elmller instance* before.
fudges wore
executive's action butittle discretion in contesting it under th* wide atate-of-siego powers exercised by the military government.
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' Chile's Raul Cardinal Silva had already declared the falaquett deportation "regrettable." Catholic organization* abroad are likely to echo the sentiment. The Pinochet government's tendency to overreact in such situations will probably onea againarvest of ill will from critics in Europe and the US. indeed, the regime aeeraa to be putting its worst foot forward at the very time that it is apparently initiating some firm steps.to prevent flagrant abuses of human rights andropitious jlimate for vhe meeting of the OAS in Santiago in June.
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Original document.
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