WEEKLY REVIEW: JUNTA GAINING CONTROL OVER ORGANIZED VIOLENCE, HOWEVER CHILE REM

Created: 11/9/1973

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

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KEEPING THE LID ON

The junta appears to be gaining confidence in its ability to forestall organized violence from the left; at the same time, it seams to havemore aware that its economic recoverycould cause it troubles with Chilean workers-

Curfew restrictions were tightened inlast weekend, apparently on the assumption that tne left might turn to violence to mark the third anniversary of the late president AUode's inauguration. Possiblyesult, the occasion passed quietly.

ence, H

cnases."

eek ago. Interior Minister Bonilla and Economy Minister Leniz were advising work-ers' wives to stop buyinghite if they thought prices were too high.ovember, however. Admiralember of the junta,usinessmen that their recentlypower to set prices could produce either "weH-bemg orerino's emphasis on the effectsces appears to have been meantarning to the businessmen not to allow the lure of profit to sabotage the government's efforts to win over the workers. Speaking to the same audi-

ce, the economy minister noted that. "Nothing gained by charging high prices if no one pur-

as "disorganized" and "decimated."however, that the left has not beer^ornpTeieTyaisarmed and that arrests.and the "psychological campaign to break the extremists' will to resist" should

Concern that the harsh measures against the left may be counterproductive in the long run surfacing within the corpia-Dine7ot(nationjlarabinero officers are said to be especially unhappy about continued summary executions despite the government'spolicy to the contrary. Orders fromin Santiago, however, may not always shape actions in the field. There have even been reports that the carabineros. rather than the armed forces, have displayed the most brutality in dealing with the Junta's opponents.

Christian Democratic economists J

fear that the attempt to spur production mr< highar prices will backfire if incomes policies overly constrain demand. The junta may have similar doubts about the economic plan it Isat the benast of an influential group of young technocrats, and Leniz has announcedew pay policy will be promulgated in January. In the meantime, the government is likely to move quickly to correct economic abuses such as failure to pay the wage bonuses it has ordered.

At any rate, the regime may be movingthe conclusioneftist counterattack is not an immediate threat, and that resentment of its economic policiesotentially more serious problem.

Paga 28 WEEKLY REVIEW

9 Nov 73

Original document.

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