Chilei' Peeking Into Murky Comers
| Acting under the mandate of Presidentrecent decree promising to safeguard the rlghta of prisoners, tha juttlce minister and the supreme court president are making surprise visits to datantion centers in the Santiago metropolitan area. If the practice persists it may put an end to the reported abuses of human rights by security and intelligence forces.
i The two officlala, who are respected by thi Chilean legal community, ere empowered by law to undertake the following actlonsi
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set themselves up, without advance notice,' ii iJ*hy piece of detention releted to the state of
'j Jsiege and to inspect it for strict complianceilaws pertaining to the rights of prisoners.
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onfidential written report on anyj'anomalies they lir.i.
o order the immediate medical examinationy Iprisoner who claims to have been mistreated.
I the justice
minister. And the suprwne court MaTellpWWCTaiy stated their intent to continue the unannounced checks. hesitant to discuss their findings, which have been reported privately to the President, the two officials appeared determined to do an honest ana energetic job.
I they
uncovered evidence of serious abuselTITufflh rights. Medical advisers who accompanied them to Cuatroetention center operated by the Directorate of National Intelligenceonfirmed that physical mistreatment
SECRET
of prisoner* had occurred recently. The tvuinformed Pinochet of tha need for strongfrom hln and probably praised foe closure of Theto give full
. endorsement to tha continuing Investigations and may be considering reconmendations for reform.
Moanwhlle, Supreme Court President Eyzaguirrethat he hadompletely unpublicited trip to Villa Griaaldi,orture chamber run byut that he saw no signs of irregularities there. Eyzaguirre claimed that he arrived with no advance notice and opened every door. Be did not think the news of his planned visit had leaked.
Pinocnet may have ordered his intelligence chiefs to clean house quickly in advance of visits by impartial observers and in preparation for the ached"led meeting in June of the Organization of Americanantiago. This event will bring the full glare of internationalon the military regime. In addition, thero is some chance that representatives of the Inter-American Human Rights Commission will also be invited to Chile prior to the June meeting.
1 Xa another development that appears to hint at an hobin; of the government'e tough security practices, Eyzsguirre told newsmen rscsntly that he did not beliwve imprisoned Communist Party leader Luis Corvslan would be tiledilitarywould provide regime opponentsause celebre and provoke stridentfrom many Western nations as well as theworld. Pinochet may instead arrange to have Corvalan released from naval custody and expelled from the country, ridding itajor focus of foreign criticism, faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaai
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