TOP
EXTREMISTS LOSE LEADER
Government security forcesevere defeat on the extremist Movement of theLeft last week. Miguel Enriquez, leader of the movement and number one on themost-wanted list, was killed in Santiago onun battle between security forces and thehad apparently been responsiblearing bank robbery several days earlier. Nearly half of the hold-up loot was recovered from the house in which Enrique/ died, alongache of weapons that included Soviet-made rifles and rocket launchers.
It it uncertain whether tho bank robberyirst stepew extremist offensive, aploy aimed at demonstrating that the movement was still viable, or an act ofon the partroup constantly hounded by security forces.
the move-
ndertake serious terrorist activity, and that EnriQuez himself feared that even if it could, such action would be counterproductive. Enriquez was evento have authorized the group's leaders to Teave^nile in order toightening police dragnet.
Last month, however, the movementgovernment overturesecret "truce" that would have called for the group to turn in its arms and expose its penetrations of the armed forces in return for safe conducts out of the country. The group may have felt compelled to revalidate its revolutionary credentials with tangible
actionJJ
the movement was considering onmg us defensive strategy in order to launch an anti-government terrorist campaign.
In any case, Enriquez' death has deprived the group of its most capable leader. Leadership may now devolve on his brother Edgar do,in exile in Paris, or on Andres Pascal Allende. the late president Allende's nephew, who reportedly took part in the bank robbery but escaped during the shootout.
Strenuous government efforts to destroy the movement have huit the organization badly. The group seems toagnetic attraction for young, violence-prone leftists, however, which is likely to help it survive and remain capable of at least limited anti-government activity.
TOP-SECRET
Page WEEKLY REVIEW
4
Original document.
Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic: