CHILE: POPULAR SUPPORT REMAINS

Created: 9/19/1975

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

CHILL POPULAR SUPPORT REMAINS

The size and enthusiasm ol the aowd inrange as highcelebrated the military government's second anniversary last week are likely toPresident Pinochet's conviction that the junta has chosen the proper path for the country. Although the lower classes were un-defrcpresenled at the ceremonies.

genuinely exuberant and the mood was largely non political.

In his prepared remarks during thePinochet gave no indication that the regime intends to change its policies of economicand tight control over civilian political activity.

At the same time, in response to continued foreign and domestic criticism of Chile's human rights posture, the President didumber of programs that are likely to be viewed by the average Chileanoosening of restraints Pinochet announcedcouncil of state" composed of former presidents and other prominent citizens will be formed to advise the junta on important policyumber of high-level political detainees will be released from custody and be allowed to remain in the country; the state of siege, in effect since the3 coup, will be "reduced" by "onend new constitutional "standards" will be adopted by

Although these programs may to some extent mute domestic criticism of the regime's hard-line policies, they are unlikely to affect foreign criticism noticeably. The President's Initiatives are vague and contain important caveats likely to limit their effectiveness, for example, although the lowered state of siege meansumber o. criminal offenses now come under |oint military-civilian Jurisdiction, the mostcliitivelv military matters.

Ji1>oscreleasecl conlinui TeTmweraDieTorany civil charges or sentences outstanding against them.

Pinochet's new programs nevertheless suggest an added degree of flexibility in the military's overall scheme for restructuring the nation's political system. Recent strong criticism of the President by fellow junta member General Gustavo Leigh may be causing Pinochet tomore closely the regime's economic policies and the particularly severe economic plight of the lower classes. Leigh believes that Pinochet is moving too slowly in correcting these economic imbalances, and he will probablyto press for further policy changes.

Former president Eduardo Frei has reacted cautiously to Pinochet's call forouncil of state. Spokesmen for Frei's Christianmocratic Party have stated that