Uneasy peace in Chile

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33254, 18 June 1973, Page 13

Uneasy peace in Chile

(N.Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright) SANTIAGO, June 17. An uneasy quiet reigned in Santiago today after three days of violence over a strike at Chile’s giant El Teniente copper mine left one dead and 64 injured.

Riot police have been ordered on to the * he streets in central Santiago three times in less than 70 hours—yes- Ch terday to break down “I barricades put up by j ei strikers and their i sympathisers. an f e On the two previous days sail they battled to hold off rival wit groups of pro and anti- des strikers, and on Friday a mei young Brazilian student was! P shot and fatally wounded. has Meanwhile, the root of the i stri . trouble, a 61-day-old walkout p ° !i —for more pay by workers me at El Teniente. the world’s. biggest underground copper j . mine—seemed no nearer to sus settlement. |Chi

Two days of talks between e Government and strikers] id found no clear formula r a solution late last night. ] The dispute has forced I tile to suspend its vital | pper exports, three-tenths] which comes from El miente. Instead, the talks provoked gry reaction from supportof President Allende, who id he should not negotiate th those bent on the struction of his Govern*nt. President Allende himself] s said frequently that the! ike has crystallised into al litical issue, going beyond’ ? original pay claims of! Teniente workers. ■' Phe lost production fromi’ • mine—calculated at over! S4om—has badly damaged ! ■ ile’s ailing economy. |i