Chile Democratico representative Belissario Henrriquez speaking at the rally last Friday sponsored by the Canadians for Democracy in Chile Committee. — Sean Griffin photo Solidarity campaign urged against junta repression Before the September coup in Chile and the wave of fascist terror that forced him from his post and into exile abroad, Belissario Henrriquez was the vice-dean of philosophy at the un- iversity of Chile in Santiago. Now, like thousands of his countrymen, he is mobilizing world support for democratic Chile through Chile Democratico — the headquarters of the Chilean resistance in Rome — with the aim of ending the jun- ta’s terror and restoring the will of the people which the generals usurped on September 11. “The junta has unleashed the bloodiest and cruellest repres- sion in the history of Latin America,’ Henrriquez told an audience of over 400 in the Van- “eouver Technical School auditorium Friday night. “Thousands have been killed, thousands more are in concen- tration camps and all the democratic, organizations of the people have been abolished.” Fernando Martinez was scheduled to address the meeting, sponsored by the Canadians for Democracy in Chile, but was called away toa congress in Africa, being one of only a few Chilean exiles with a visa to travel to that continent. Henrriquez told the audience of the unceasing agitation from the right wing in Chile against the Allende government which had succeeded in using economic difficulties to influence small businessmen, truck and shop owners. But under the junta, he. - said, inflation has soared to 1000%, workers have been ex- pelled en masse from factories and the jobless rate exceeds 20%. ‘‘Even the middle class is affected; the junta’s policies favor only the very rich. “Despite this, the Chilean workers: have kept their organizations alive, under clandestine conditions. And early this year, the first signs of organized resistance to the junta began to appear.” A united basis for the resistance in Chile*has also been established which encompasses even those who had previously adopted a position of critical sup- port for Allende and the Chris- tian Democrats. ‘‘We have! fought not just for the left wing of the Christian Democrats but to win over the whole party, most of whose members are op- posed to the policies of the jun- ta,’’ Henrriquez declared. But he warned of the trials scheduled for April of leading Chilean political figures among them Luis Corvalan and hun- dreds of trade unionists including several dockers who went out on strike only days after the coup. They face savage prison sentences or execution if the trials are carried through. Asked about a Chilean govern- . ment in exile, Henrriquez replied that the destiny of Chilean democracy is being determined within Chile itself. ‘“The Chilean people will decide for themselves,’ he stated, ‘‘but only if world solidarity is with them.”’ : The platform guests were the measure of. solidarity in this province with the Chilean people. Organizations represented ~ in- cluded the Vancouver -and District Labor council, Canadian Committee for a Democratic Spain, B.C. Peace Council, Cana- dian Union of Public Employees, the Communist Party, Canadian Committee for Justice to Latin American Political Prisoners and several others. Alderman Harry Rankin and noted theologian Father Roberts also - addressed the meeting chaired by Vancouver Labor Council ex- ecutive member Bob Hamilton. Philip Rankin, chairman of the Canadians for Democracy in Chile, introduced four resolutions calling for the release of political prisoners in Chile and intervention by the federal government to protest the trial by military court of political leaders in Chile; withdrawal of recognition of the junta, cessation of all commer- cial dealings with the Chilean junta and asylum for all refugees; and the withdrawal of PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 1974—PAGE 12 RCMP refugee screening teams from Chile. : A further resolution called on the provincial government to demonstrate its concern for the people of Chile by making a cash donation to the fund established by the Canadian Council of Churches to assist in the resettl- ing of Chilean refugees. Proceeds from Friday’s meeting — from a collection of some $1200 — will go to that fund. . Proceeds from the meeting held last year for Hortensia Alende — amounting to $2000 — were also turned over to Henrriquez at Friday’s rally. When the _ provincial government’s proposed Bill 31 — the Mineral Royalties Act — comes up for-final readings later in this session of the Legislature, it will already have established itself as one of the major policy questions which will determine the direction in which the government is going to move. Like an earlier piece of progressive legislation, the Land Commission Act, Bill 31 has delineated the forces in favor of it and — against it. And the bat- tle will be to uphold the prin- ciples_embodied in the bill without government capitulation in the face of massive pressure which the mining companies are bringing to bear. Following a kick-off meeting in Vancouver some weeks ago, the mining industry — including the sprawling corporate giant, Con- solidated Mining and Smelting, in turn owned by the CPR — has spent thousands of dollars in an ° advertising campaign accusing the provincial government of “not knowing or not caring” about the jobs that would be lost if the legislation is passed. Voicing its support for the bill, the Vancouver and District Labor Council last week welcom- ed the initiatives by the.govern- ment to seek a greater return on the mineral resources of the province and urged it to resist all pressures of the mining com- panies which want to emasculate the legislation. ' This week, the United Steelworkers mining conference voted unanimously to support the government bill subject to amendments which may follow a union study to be carried out this week. As well, the 200,000 member B.C. Federation of Labor -com- mended Mines Minister Leo Major battle shap up over Mineral Ac Nimsick for his efforts toP 4 mineral resources Uf “tt greater degree of public cole and added that ‘‘for 100 these most valuable Tes? have been exploited by thost whom the best interes™ British Columbians are °™ incidental interest.” bi At stake in the proposed despite the companies’ PIO” concern for jobs — are P” which have climbed 1 levels in recent years and ¥ have hitherto been subjee to token royalties. | When the legislation appeared on the order — company estimates of We was going to cost the pS varied wildly anywhere ir to over $150 million. 4@ because ‘‘a tax of consi@™” more than 50 cents of = dollar of mining industtY nings.”’ In fact, the bill provides. five per cent annual ta% net value of mineral pr” starting in 1975. And the ment can benefit from ese? world prices by S@¥™ designated value for He mineral based*on a average with any increase” cess of 20% over that ¢@% value to be taxed at 4 a 50%. Previously, the ne ‘ straight in the profit c° the companies. In the period before fe age of the legislation, © union movement al 4 of others who seek equitable -return 0” Ni resources will expect and other members — government to stand by ment that ‘‘for one years the mining indus king but now the goV calling the shots.” Want Cabinet parley Following a meeting of the B.C. cabinet with represen- tatives of landlord groups last week, the B.C. Tenants Organization Tuesday released a telegram to the cabinet asking for a meeting with represen- tatives of labor, pensioner and tenant groups to put forward their stand on tenant legislation. The telegram was signed by Len Guy, secretary-treasurer of the B.C. Federation of Labor, Syd Thompson, president of the Vancouver Labor Council, Frank Way, chairman Federation Legislative Council of Elderly Citizens, Alderman Harry Rankin, Bruce Yorke, president B.C. Tenants Organization and Frank Izzard, president Surrey Tenants Organization. The telegram said that ‘‘in the interests of obtaining all view- points first hand, the under- signed respectfully requests a meeting with cabinet in order that we can express the views of the hundreds of thousands of peo- ple we represent.”’ Those requesting the meeting have agreed to put a five-point program before the cabinet and to press for speedy action. The five points are: ¢ Support for the 8% limitation on rent increases recently an- nounced and urging that it be made applicable for the whole of 1974. ¢ Establishment of Municipal Rent Review Boards on a representative basis with powers to administer the Landlord & Te- nant Act. * Collective bargaining rights for tenant organizations. - ° Eviction for just cause only. * Massive government finance and constructed housing program. The B.C. Tenants Organization also this week wrote Attorney General Alex Macdonald supply- ing him with figures of the number of tenants and their dis- tribution in the metropolitan Vancouver and Victoria area. The letter was prompted by remarks of the attorney general that collective bargaining would "OUST AS SOON AS YOU GET ( A FREE HAND, DiGBy, ScRATCH MY BACK/” UE NEWS SERVICE not affect many tenat ‘a figures show that over 200,000 tenants in the me live in apartment blocks than 20 apartments. The BCTO also this released figures taken ! y; Real Estate Board 9p couver’s publication, deb! Estate Trends’’, which i the landlord’s claim operating costs. _ . 2. tl The publication give current operating cost 0 true frame and concrete C0 wer buildings which are H€ nit offer contemporary 4 ‘put They include everything ase8 terest (which is mos le is? declining as the princlp cial” off, or so-called dé ' (which is a theoretic@ ting only in the fast apprecl@” ” and real estate market); ohm This study,” “id: presumably based of at shows that for low rise construction) suites cost per month to the ° na $60.21. For high rise, (Me construction) the averae, per suite per month 1S ?~ The BCTO is circulall chain letter to its more th ti members urging the letters to Premier arrell Baro torney General Alex and the writers’ MLA, support for tenants legislation.