Chile plebiscite

Press, 12 September 1980, Page 5

Chile plebiscite

NZPA-Reuter Santiago The Chilean President (General Augusto Pinochet) is expected to be given a new eight-year mandate today in a compulsory plebiscite on a new constitution. Tension was high in the capital, Santiago, on the eve of voting, with sporadic clashes between baton-wield-ing police and youths decrying the Government. Six people were injured and 11 arrested. More than 61 million Chileans are eligible to vote and those who fail to go to the polls will have to pay fines of up to $l5O or be sent to prison for 60 days. The Right-wing military ’ Government began drafting a new constitution six years ago to replace the current constitution dating from 1925, which it said

allowed the infiltration of Marxism into the Chilean political system. The new constitution contains 120 permanent clauses and 29 others which will be introduced gradually during the eight-year period beginning next March if General Pinochet wins the plebiscite. Civilian politicians, especially the Christian Democrats, have alleged that the entire process is rigged in the Government’s favour and General Pinochet is certain to win. A Roman Catholic Church source said the new constitution contained nothing to safeguard freedom of expression and civil rights. “Chileans are being asked to vote for the legalisation of the dictatorship,” he said. Union leaders and university professors have also con-demnr-i the plebiscite.