Chilean junta bans political activity

Press, 14 March 1977, Page 8

Chilean junta bans political activity

NZPA-Reuter Santiago Chile's military rulers have banned all political parties, and political activities bv groups or individuals, after announcing the discovery of a plot to overthrow the Gov-! ernment. The new measures, contained in a decree issued bv President Augusto Pinochet’s ruling junta, followed Gov-i ernment charges that Christ-1 ian Democrat leaders had: planned an alliance with

>■ Marxist groups, including the already-banned Communist 5 Party. • The former Finance Min- ' ister (Mr Andres Zaldivar) ■land a former senator. Mr ! Thomas Reyes, the Christian ■ Democrat Party’s two top officials, who were named as • the men behind the alleged plot, said that they had no ; statements to make and were ■ I staying at home for the time ■i being. |j There has been no indicai tion of any Government

• action against the two men t The ban on political pur ties affects non-Marxist poll- • tical organisations, including l.the Christian Democrat- ■ which have been in recess ilsince rhe 1973 military coup > which overthrew the Lett ■ wing Government of the late I Pre-ident Salvador Allende i All six parties in President >, Allende's Popular Unity coah rtion. including the Commun ists. were banned outright when the militarv came to : power.