H

| Letters

Elsepth Gardner, Chairperson, Canadians
for Democracy in Chile writes: For eleven
years a military junta has controlled Chile

| by ruthless repression and terror, but it has

| not been able to crush the spirit of the Chi-

‘lean people.

__ The history of democratic constitutional
government in Chile dates back to 1833. In
1970, under the government of Salvador
Allende, a program of nationalization of
‘Tesources, begun earlier, was continued,
and there were major advances in social,

cultural, educational and agricultural

| reforms. —

The reaction of the right-wing industrial-

ists of Chile, supported by multinational
corporations, and aided by the CIA, was to
destroy the elected government by military
force. On Sept. 11, 1973, a military junta
}under General Augusto Pinchoet wiped
| out all civil, democratic and legal rights,
'banned all political parties and trade
‘unions, and began a systematic attack by
‘murder, mass arrests and torture, on those
, from whom resistance was expected. In the
| ensuing months, some 2,500 persons disap-
peared, and almost 10 per cent of the popu-
lation left’ or was driven out of the country,
large numbers of them denied the right to
return. A state of emergency was declared
by the junta — a state of emergency which
has never been lifted.

| From the beginning, the eyes of the world
have been on Chile. The course of events
“has been documented by Chileans inside
‘and outside their country; by many organi-
zations concerned with civil liberties; by
trade unions; and by the Human Rights
‘Commission of the United Nations, which
in 1979 appointed a Special Rapporteur

ie has since reported annually.

Renew Chile solidarity on Sept. 11

Brenda Doherty, Prince George, writes:
I must tell you how much I enjoy your
paper, especially the column by Harry
Rankin. The article under Election in the
Aug. 22 issue (“Communist canadidates;
party’s program provides the triumphs”,
Tribune Aug. 22 1984), prompted me to
write.

It’s encouraging to see that more
people are wanting real and practical
answers to our economic problems and
are supportive of the one and only party
that addresses the issues. But as is
obvious, there is still a struggle, with the
media and so on.

pers

CRs program welcomed ms

As more people are educated, as I was,
and come to the realization that “Com-
munist’”’ means “for” the people and not
against them, the hopes for a better sys-
tem and an independent Canada will
shine so much brighter.

I want a peaceful future for myself and
my family and, as I see it, this capitalist
society, its governments and its politics
won’t give me that.

So to Sy Pederson, a good friend, and
to all CP candidates, good luck. Maybe
next time there will be a CP candidate in
our area to vote for!

In 1981, after a rigged plebiscite, where
no discussion or opposition was permitted,
the junta introduced a so-called “‘constitu-
tion” which restored no rights but instead
institutionalized repression.

In detailed reports made in the fall of
1983 and the spring of 1984, the Special
Rapporteur to the UN spelled out in detail
the continuing violations of human rights in
Chile. On March 15, 1984, the Commission
on Human Rights of the UN expressed by
resolution its dismay “at the disruption in
Chile of the traditional democratic legal
order and its institutions, particularly
through the maintenance of emergency leg-
islation, the institutionalization of states of
emergency, the extension of military juris-
diction and the existence of a constitution
which does not reflect the will of the people
freely expressed and whose provisions not

only fail to guarantee human rights and
fundamental freedoms, but suppress, sus-
pend or limit their enjoyment and exercise.”

Despite all that, resistance to the military
junta has broadened and deepened over the
years. Organizations officially banned have
led a de facto existence. In 1983 and 1984,
the growing opposition has expressed itself
in days of national protest, pointing the way
to a general strike in the country. Demon-
strations have brought new reprisals, but
opposition to the junta continues to grow.

On this Sept. 11, 1984, the Chilean people

-are again looking to all democratic forces in

Canada to renew and extend support for the
right of Chileans to return to their own
country, and for their long and hard battle
to bring an end to the military junta and to
restore democracy in Chile.

Bennett asked: ‘Where are the jobs?’

The following i is an open letter to Premier
J Bennett from Operation Solidarity: On July
i 7, 1983 you announced that your govern-
a ment was going to lead the province
t through a period of “restraint, recovery and
l reality.”

You also said that your restraint program
would create the kind of economic climate
, needed to attract investment which in turn
| would create jobs for British Columbians.
c

Your Minister of Finance, Hugh Curtis,
was very explicit when he said: “The ulti-
/ ‘mate benefit of the government’s restraint

{ 1918 Act °
| bars rights

r Rene Sasseville, Prince George,
) | writes: I find it extremely unfortunate
that as a Canadian citizen with family
roots that go back:as far as 1690, that I
cannot get involved in helping a can-
didate in my riding.
I want to express my dissatisfaction
— and God help me, I still have the
right to do that — that as a federal
public employee (so called public ser-
vant), I cannot take part in political
activities without disciplinary action
taken against me (which could very _
well include dismissal).
In a democracy the freedom of a
_| citizen to take political actions is con-
| | sidered to be basic right.
| In the Civil Service Act of 1918,

ee Se ne Ee Seven PEE. a PO nh

Ne public sector workers were forbidden
- | to participate in all political activities
S| except the right to vote. I really would
like to'see that our political represen-
1 tatives take’ a serious look at

this — so that one day I can have full

program will be a healthy and sustainable
economic recovery.’

We have now seen and expedeacea the
terrible price that your restraint policies
have extracted from our society.

We have not yet seen the “sustainable
economic recovery” or the jobs created by
restraint.

It is a matter of fact that we are now
worse off than ever. Mr. Premier, your res-
traint program is not working.

According to the most recent economic

forecasts, our province will be the last in:

Canada to experience an economic recov-
ery. Your government’s restraint program
has been identified as one of the main
causes, and has driven investment away
from B.C. rather than attracting it.

© Restraint has increased the number of
unemployed in B.C. to over 220,000. Our
unemployment rate in B.C. is the highest in
the country, outside of Newfoundland.

@ Capital investment in British Colum-
bia has dropped from 14.3 billion in 1981 to
11.9 billion in 1984.

@ The growth of British Columbia’s

RANKIN
See |
COMPANY

Barristers & Solicitors

4th Floor, 195 Alexander St.
Vancouver, B.C. V6A IN8

682-2781

Offers a broad range of
legal services including:

Personal Injury & Insurance claims
Real Estate & Conveyancing
Divorce & Family Law

Labour Law

Criminal Law

Estates & Wills

gross provincial product has declined from
1.5 per cent in 1983 to .7 per cent this year.

© Restraint has not reduced our taxes.
The money that you claimed would be
saved by cancelling government services
and firing public employees has not been
passed on to the taxpayers. Instead, you
have raised our taxes.

It is obvious to most British Columbians
that your restraint programs have failed to
produce a single job, and the money saved
as a result of the cuts in government services
has not gone towards job creation
programs.

Mr. Premier, the issue is simple and
‘straightforward: where are the jobs that
have been created by restraint?

Classified
Advertising

COMING EVENTS

SEPT. 11 — Commemoration of coup in
Chile. 7:30 p.m. La Quena, 1111 Victoria.
Spons. by Canadians for Democracy in Chile.
Phone 254-9797 for more info.

SEPT. 20 — Regular monthly meeting of the
Canadian-Cuban Friendship Assoc. 8 p.m. Bri-
tannia Centre, 1661 Napier, Rm. L-5.

SEPT. 22 — Garage sale. Two 16mm sound
projectors, freezer, tools, furniture, misc.
household items. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 3446 W.
19th Ave. (rear)

OCT. 10 — Adult Ukrainian language classes
start at the Ukrainian Cultural Centre. For more
information, call Anne Withers (437-9330),
Sonia Worobetz (253-4628) or oe Berg
(255-7287).

WANTED

SELF-CONTAINED apartment wanted by low
income oap. Phone Bea at 872-2128.

FOR SALE
PLAYPEN, near new adjustable baby walker,
sterilizer, other baby items. Reasonable.
254-9337.
FOUND

PAIR OF GLASSES, children’s size with clear
frames. Found at Trout Lake Park following pic-
nic Aug. 25. To claim 254-9836.

COMMERCIAL

GRAMMA PUBLICATIONS. Complete print-
ing services. Brochures, menus, leaflets, etc. A
union shop. 1595 W. 3rd Ave., Van. Hours:
Mon-Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., 733-6822.

ELECTRICAL, plumbing, appliance repairs.
Don Berg. 255-7287.

WRITER-RESEARCHER: Social, labor, muni-
cipal issues. Phone Ron Sostad 685-6633 or
688-9052.

GENERAL INSURANCE, auto, home, boat,
business. Dave Morton, bus. 734-7124; res.
433-4568

FURNITURE REFINISHING & finishing,

minor repairs, kitchen cupboards refinished a
specialty. 588-5192 or 596-1355.

LEGAL SERVICES

RANKIN, BOND, McMURRAY. Barristers
= le 2nd Floor, 157 Alexander Street.
- +

DIRECTORY *

COMMUNIST PARTY OF CANADA offices
located at 102, 2747 E. Hastings St. Vancouver.
Phone 254-9836. Office hours 9:30-12 noon;
1-5 p.m. Mon. to Fri. For information on political
issues or assistance in political activity.

HALLS FOR RENT

RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME — Available for
rentals. For reservations phone 254-3430.

UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CULTURAL
CENTRE — 805 East Pender St. Vancouver.

Available for banquets, weddings, meetings.
Phone 254-3436.

Classified advertising rates $1 per line
week. Deadline for insertions, Wednesday ef
week prior to publication.

Tickets: $30.00
Unemployed/

Low Income: $15.00
Children: $10.00

COPE
BANQUET

Saturday, September 15, 1984
6:30, Dit =

New Diamond Restaurant
555 Gore Avenue, Vancouver

To reserve your ticket
call the COPE
election centre

at 875-9188

freedom to exercise my political
rt
{
|

PACIFIC TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 7, 1984 e 11