Tear-gas used in Santiago

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33263, 28 June 1973, Page 15

Tear-gas used in Santiago

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright

SANTIAGO. June 26.

Police used tear-gas in Santiago against supporters of Chile’s Left-wing Government who stoned women and students demonstrating in favour of striking Coppermine workers.

The incident came after a dozen of the strikers’ wives had talks with President Salvador Allende in the Presidential palace yesterday, having walked 40 of the 50 miles from the mining town to this capital. Jeering Government supporters hurled stones and other objects from a high building at a group of the wives who had been joined by anti-Govemment students, witnesses said.

I Police replied with tear-gas, firing some grenades in through the building’s window.

The strike at the giant El Teniente mine, near the town of Rancagua, has been going on for 69 days and has caused a suspension of copper exports, costing the country an estimated SNZ4Sm so far. President Allende has charged that the strike is politically motivated.

Meanwhile, the Chilean Supreme Court today accused Dr Allende of trying to override the judiciary for political purposes. In an open letter to the President, the 13 Court Ministers said that as long as the judiciary was guaranteed by I the Constitution they would not countenance any attempts to subvert its independence. The Court had ruled that a recent Government ban on a Right-wing radio station for six days was illegal, and, in an ensuing row between the Court and the President, Congress tabled a motion of censure against the Supreme Court.

After their meeting with Dr Allende today, the women, exhausted and wearing miners’ helmets, said that the exchange had been frank and cordial, and hinted that the President might produce a formula to end the strike

Shortly. '• “We are very satisfied.” a ' spokesman said. She declined ’ to give details of the talks, 1 saying: “We might throw:* away the formula proposed to c solve the conflict.” c