WESTERN HEMISPHERE BRIEF - CHILE: THE PRISONER RELEASE PROGRAM ANNOUNCED LAST

Created: 10/30/1974

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

THC OUCSTION OP WHO OUALIflES rOR RELEASE HAS GIVEN RISE TO

CONSIDERABLE SPECULATION AND SOMC CONPUSION. PINOCHCTi IN HIS ANNIVERSARY SPEECH ON SEPTEMBER Ui REFERRED SPECIFICALLY TORRESTED UNDER THC STATEc:jB

' N OCTOBERNTERIOR MINISTER BENAVIBES DECLARED THAT

PERSONS FELL INTO THIS CATEGORY AS OF SEPTEMBER ll* HE SAID THAT

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3flb ALREADY HAD BEEN FREED AND THAT ALL OF THE REMAINDER. EXCEPT

THOSE AGAINST WHOM THERE HAS SERIOUS CHARCCI. WOULD BE RELEASED SOON.

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PINOCHET HAP SAID THAT THC RELEASE PROGRAR MIGHT BE EXTENDED IN CERTAIN CASES TO PEOPLE ALREADY SENTENCED- BUT BENAVIDES CAREFULLY LIMITED THE RELEASE TO DETAINEES AGAINST WHOM NO CHARGES HAD YET BEEN BROUGHT. BENAVIDES MOULD THUS APPEAR TO EXCLUDE ANDI ALREADY TRIED AND SENTENCED* OR CHARGCD AND AHAITIN6 TRIAL* THISROUP. APPARENTLY MILL NOT BENEFIT PROR THE INITIAL STAGE OP THE RELEASE PROGRAM* BUT flANY RAY EVENTUALLY BE FREED* PERHAPS

IN CONJUNCTIONROGRAR OF PARDONSIRITCD AMNESTY

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,', j: EARLY THIS MONTH*ERNRENT PRORISED THAT ALL PERSONS THEN

UNDER DETENTION MOULD BE FREED OR CHARGED BY EARLYIN ANNOUNCING THE RELEASE PROGRAR* PINOCHET IMPLIED THAT ONLY PERSONS MHO AGREED TO LEAVE CHXLC MOULD BE FREED. IT APPEARS*THAT HOST Of THOSE NOH BEING RELEASED ARE* IN FACT* BCXNG ALLOMED TO REMAIN IN THE COUNTRY. ALLENDE REGIME OFFICIALS MILL

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PROBABLY BE EXCEPTIONS. ORLANDO LETELIER* FORMER AMBASSADOR TCS HAS ALREADY BEEN RELEASED AND EXPELLEDJ

! MHEN THE GOVERNMENT BEGINS RELEASING PERSONS ALREADY CONVICTED

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OR CHARGCD MITH "SERIOUS OFFENSES* IT IS LIKELY TO REflUIRE MANY TO

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LEAVE- EUROPEAN ANO LATIN AMERICAN DISINCLINATION TO RECEIVE MORE

CHILEAN REFUGEES COULD IMPEDE RELEASE OF INDIVIDUALS THE GOVERNMENT

| HILL NOT ALLOH TO RERAIN IN CHILE |

INOCHET COUPLED HIS ANNOUNCEMENTECLARATION THAT THE MILITARY GOVCRNMCNTMORAL DUTY" BEFORE IMPLEMENTING ITS

j PROGRAM TO DEMAND THAT THE USSR AND CUBA OFFCR THE RIGHT TO EMIGRATE

TO AN EOUAL NUMBER OF ARRESTED PERSONS OR CONVICTED PRISONERS. IT

IS CLEAR THAT HE HOPED TOROPAGANDA HARVEST FROM THC CHALLENGE

1 BUT 1TKAT POSITIVE SOVIET AND CUBAN RESPONSES ARC NOT PRECONDITIONS

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FOR THE RELEASE OF CHILEAN PRISONERS^

; IP THE FIRST STAGE BINDS UP NEXT MONTH AS SCHCDULCD AND IF THC

GOVERNMENT BY THEN DETERMINES THAT IT HAS MILKED ITS CHALLENGE TO

I) .

THE ICUBANS AND SOVIETS FOR ALL IT IS NORTH* THC PROGRAM MAY 6CT

UNDER MAY IN'CARHCST WITH SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS BY CHRISTMAS*

Original document.

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