Pinochet near-untouchable despite rights issues

Press, 6 October 1987, Page 31

Pinochet near-untouchable despite rights issues

LOUISE BYRNE

writes from Santiago that

following the fourteenth anniversary last month of the coup that brought President Augusto Pinochet to power, Chile is gripping itself for a year in which protest is more likely to be on paper than in the streets.

Some eight million potential voters in Chile are in the process of deciding whether or not to add their names to the country’s new electoral roll. The register and the election it precedes has split even further Chile’s already-divided opposition, while President Pinochet has, it appears, begun his own electoral campaign against what for the moment is a non-existent opposition at the polls.

Still firm after 14 years in power and an attempt on his life a year ago last month, the 71-year-old President can be said to be riding high and probably another eight years in power. To date, some 2000 Chileans have signed on the country’s controversial new electoral register; committing themselves to taking part in a one-man presidential plebiscite which must be held in Chile before March, 1989, but some believe will be held as early as September, 1988. In what General Pinochet calls a return to “protected” democracy, the people will be able ,to say either “yes” or "no” to a candidate chosen by the Presi-

dent. All indications are that candidate will be the, President himself. For Chile’s opposition, the election is an insult and a mockery of democracy which, unlike many other Latin American , countries, has a long tradition in Chile. But the opposition is still divided in their way of tackling the election. - . In an attempt to beat Pinochet on his own terms, parties of the Right and Centre have called upon the people to register and vote against the election candk date. At the same time, they continue to call for free elections open to all parties which, they; say, will save Pinochet from a humiliating defeat. Parties on the Left of Chile’s opposition are also calling for free electiofla but

with a complete boycott of the electoral roll. If Pinochet or his candidate loses the yes-no plebiscite, the military constitution, says the President, will rule for another year before free elections are held, causing one United States Congressman visiting Chile recently to say: “It is the only system I know where the loser stays in power and the winner has to go home.” Although opinion polls show only 13 per cent of the population as saying, they would vote for Pinochet In the plebiscite, some observers point out that .polls are one thing and the ballot box another. In the end,, fear and the lack of, a viable alternative ■■ mav win through! -y; - ' ~ • Whatever demands the

tion may be making, they are still infinitely divided, without an obvious leader or clear blueprint for a transition to democracy. However, some analysts say pragmatism appears to be finally replacing dogmatism amongst the opposition and that progress is being made in understanding politics more, as a process of negotiation and less as the /unilateral imposition of one’s views.” . Meanwhile, President Pinochet has apparently begun his- own electoral campaign, travelling the country which stretches for 4200 kilometres along the west coast of Latin America, pointing to the country’s buoyant economy, announcing new social and housing programmes, and continuing to warn against the communist threat: Although recent polls supposedly show Chileans to be more concerned about economic issues than social questions, human: rights continues to be the largest thorn; in Pinochet’s side on bpm a local and an international 'level. v Copyright London Observer Service.