DATE=12/2/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-223557
TITLE=CHILE CORPSES (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A CHILEAN CONGRESSMAN HAS FILED MURDER CHARGES AGAINST
WHOEVER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF 58 BODIES THAT WERE
DISCOVERED LAST WEEK IN A SECRET CEMETERY IN THE NORTHERN CITY OF
ANTOFAGASTA. THE BODIES MAY BE VICTIMS OF REPRESSION BY THE
MILITARYGOVERNMENT THAT RULED CHILE FROM 1973 TO 1990. WE HAVE
DETAILS FROM V-O-A'S CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN OUR SOUTH
AMERICA BUREAU.
TEXT: CONGRESSMAN FELIPE VALENZUELA, OF THE CENTER-LEFT PARTY
FOR DEMOCRACY, SAYS HE HAS FILED MURDER CHARGES BECAUSE A
NEWSPAPER DATED 1973 WAS FOUND IN ONE OF THE SHALLOW GRAVES, AND
BECAUSE THEY WERE NEAR THE CHACABUCO ARMY BASE USED AS A
DETENTION CENTER BY THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT IN THAT YEAR.
WHEN THE SECRET CEMETERY WAS DISCOVERED LAST WEEK, INTERIOR
MINISTERCARLOS FIGUEROA SAID THE BODIES WERE PROBABLY THOSE OF
NITRATE MINERS WHO DIED ABOUT 100 YEARS AGO, BUT CONGRESSMAN
VALENZUELA IS NOT BUYING THIS EXPLANATION.
MEANWHILE, A RETIRED CHILEAN ARMY GENERAL WHO COMMANDED THE
ANTOFAGASTA DISTRICT, JOAQUIN LAGOS, HAS DENIED A REPORT BY THE
MADRID NEWSPAPER EL PAIS, WHICH SAYS HE GAVE A DEPOSITION TO A
COURT IN SPAIN THAT 53 DETAINEES WERE KILLED IN 1973 ON DIRECT
ORDERS OF GENERAL AUGUSTO PINOCHET.
GENERAL LAGOS SAYS THE REPORT IN EL PAIS IS TOTALLY FALSE AND
LIBELOUS. HE SAYS HE DID NOT SEND TESTIMONY TO THE SPANISH COURT,
AND ANYONE WHO DID SO IN HIS NAME WAS AN IMPOSTOR.
A SPANISH COURT IS CONSIDERING CHARGES OF GENOCIDE AND TERRORISM
AGAINST CHILE'S FORMER MILITARY GOVERNMENT (WHICH WAS ALLEDGELY
RESPOSNSIBLE FOR THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SOME SPANISH CITIZENS AT
THE TIME). CHILE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE SPAIN'S JURISDICTION IN THE
CASE.
GENERAL PINOCHET WAS DECORATED TODAY (TUESDAY) IN ECUADOR BY THE
MINISTRY OF DEFENSE, AFTER BEING HONORED MONDAY BY ECUADOR'S
NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE. HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS ARE PROTESTING HIS
VISIT TO QUITO.
WHEN THE 82-YEAR-OLD GENERAL STEPS DOWN IN MARCH AS CHILE'S ARMY
COMMANDER, HE WILL BECOME A SENATOR-FOR-LIFE. (SIGNED)
NEB/GM/PT
02-Dec-97 5:11 PM EST (2211 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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