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The Chilean people have
begun the long struggle’

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_TORONTO — “The people of
Chile are resisting against the
dictatorship. How else can one
explain the new wave of repres-
sion that has swept the country
during the last weeks?”, said
Hugo Facio, former vice-presi-
dent of the Chilean Central State

- Bank addressing an overflowing

solidarity meeting here on Sept.
11. :

“What the people are doing
is not spectacular. Not yet. But
they are resisting”, said Mr.

- Facio. “And it is organized. And
it will finally culminate in vic-
tory and the end of the junta”.

The almost 600 people who
attended the meeting, which was
crganized by a Chile Week of
Solidarity Coalition including
the Toronto Chilean Association,
Canadian Committee for Solidar-
ity with Democratic Chile, Latin
American Working Group and
Tcronto Committee for the Li-
beration of Portugal’s African
Colonies (TCLPAC) among oth-
ers, also heard from meeting
chairman Andrew Brewin, NDP
MP and its paliamentary foreign
affairs critic, and Rev. John
Zimmerman.

The meeting began with a film
from the German Democratic
Republic, “We Accuse”. In it
were shown some of the proceed-
ings of the May International
Tribunal to Investigate the
Crimes of the Junta held in Hel-
sinki, Finland. The 40-minute
film showed excerpts of reports
from men and women who were
the objects of the junta’s vicious

~ repression.

Free Prisoners

Mr. Brewin, who has been out-
spoken in his criticism of the

_ Canadian government for its

servile attitude to the Chilean
junta, and its handling of the
refugee question, applauded the
efforts of the people of Chile
who were enging in action

“.against the junta. He also de-

manded that the Canadian gov-
ernment speak out for-the re-
lease of the many thousands of
political prisoners the junta
keeps in jails and concentration
camps in Chile.

Rev. Zimmerman, representing
the Inter-Church Ad Hoc Com-
mittee on Chilean refugees, cri-
ticized Canada for rushing to
Support the Pinochet dictator-
ship. :

Rev. Zimmerman
that Canada favored the Interna-
tional Monetary Fund’s extend-
ing of a $95-million credit ‘to

revealed ~

Chile, as well as_two loans to-
talling $100-million from the
Inter - American Development
Bank.

“Such loans tend to strength-
en the hand of the junta and the
privileged rich of that country,
and we know the wealth is not
trickling down”, he said.

Mr. Zimmerman also revealed
that the Canadian International
Development Agency is planning
an investment ‘seminar this fall
for Canadian companies that
may be interested in investing
in Latin American countries, in-
cluding. Chile.

High Profits

Speaking of Falconbridge
Nickel, which is reportedly con-
templating a $300-million copper
investment -in Chile, Rev. Zim-
merman said that “once again, a
company which is not known
for its socially sensitive con-
science is planning to invest in
a country contralled by a fascist-
style government where it can
be assured of high profits at the
expense of cheap labor.”

Mr. Facio, who was assistant
director of El Siglo, the news-
paper of the Communist Party of
Chile from 1965-69, was repre-
senting Chile Democratico, the
organization and executive com-
mittee of the Chilean United
Left abroad.

In his: address, which pointed
out the necessity: and value of
international solidarity, Mr.
Facio spoke of the present situa-
tion, which was characterized by
physical and economic repres-
sion.

Repression Continues

“Just over a month ago, in the
working class barrio Violetta
Parra (a working class area of’
Santiago, named after the great
Chilean folk singer and Com-
munist, Violetta Parra), the mili-
tary rounded up more than 5,000
people, that is, all the men over
18 years of age’, he said.

“They were taken to the
sports stadium in the district, and
interrogated one by one. When
the operation was over, 10%, or
500 men, did not return to their
homes. They were taken to the
varicus prisons and concentra-
tion camps throughout the coun-
try, to be added to the thousands
of political prisoners already
there.”
_ Why this new wave of repres-
sion, Mr. Facio asked. It was, he
said, a consequence of the action
of workers throughout Chile

Sugar (1 kg.) 1 kg.=2.2 Ibs.
Tea

Milk (1 litre) 1 litre=1.1 qt.
Salt (1 kq.)

“Rice (1 kg.)

Bread (1 kg.)

Flour (1 kq.)

Meat (1 kg.)

Chicken (1 kg.)

Parafin (1 litre)

Men's shoes (ordinary)
Women's shoes (ordinary)

Economics of starvation

There is no doubt that the economic Policies of the junta
are geared to the starvation of the Chilean population. Here
are.some of the figures that speak:

- August 31, 1973 May 1974

12 escudos 280

40 1,600
3. 120

3.50 100

7.10 460-500

11 240

10 500
LY, 500

55 600

2 70
-2,400 15,000
1,400 12,000

~ PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1974—Page 8

- Tor and repression in Chile “4

who have dared to protest the
junta and its policies. :

Mr. Facio spoke of May 1,
when thousands of leaflets con-
demning the junta were clandes-
tinely distributed throughout
Chile, at great peril to those who
participated in the action.

Oppssition Protests

He spoke of the protest stick-
ers pasted on buses in Santiago
and Valparaiso, and the slogans
painted on walls and buildings.
Even inside the military aca-
demy, where the cream of the
junta’s new crop of officers are
being trained, anti-junta slogans
regularly appear. ‘

“And here is how the fascists
deal with these protests”, said
Mr. Facio. “The bus driver
whose bus is pasted with stick-
ers is arrested. The people in the
barrios whose walls and build-
ings are painted with anti-junta
slogans, and even the occupation
soldiers in those barrios, sup-
posedly ‘responsible’ for the
conduct of the people, are ar-
rested. This is how the junta
seeks to. impose its bloody will”.

Inflation Rages

Mr. Facio outlined the econo-
mic measures the junta has put
into effect, which have plunged
the country into a deep econo-
mic crisis. Inflation is raging
while | unemployment in Santi-
ago — where traditionally it has
been lower than the national
average — stood at 10.3% in
June of this year. Yet in June
1973 under the Popular Unity
government, unemployment was
only 3.1% — the lowest figure
in Chilean statistical history.
When Allende was elected to
government in 1970, unemploy-
ment stood at 8%.

Production of consumer goods
has dropped by 8%, and tire pro-
duction — the indicator of heavy
industrial output in Chile — has
keen cut by 40%.

Aimed at Workers
But the most brutal economic

attacks is aimed at the working

people of Chile. As the junta
Teturns the economy of the coun-
try to the control of -the U.S.
multi-national corporations, ex-
ploitation has reached unprece-
dented levels. Facio pointed out
that, taking January, 1970 as a
base of 100, average income had,
by 1973, reached 133. But today,
under Pinochet’s fascist regime,

‘it has dwindled to less than 50.

“There is a Situation in my
ccuntry of generalized hunger,”
Facio Stated. “The recent econo-
mic and political events are the
attempt to impose again the in-
terests of foreign ‘Monopolies on
Chile by means of blood and
terror.”

‘Fascism Needs Terror’

Facio pointed out that the ter-

is
not for its own sake. Fascism is
the bower of international Capi-
tai,” he Stated, “and without
terror and repression, the regime
wonld be unable to maintain it-
self.” :

Yet the economic situation in
Chile is so brutal that it has
sparked even public action in
Oppositicn, Already some Strikes
have broken out and though even
small actions carry with them
the terrible risk of life, walls

e

have been secretly painted as a

‘symbol to freedom. And despite

the fact that his statements
bring reprisals from the junta,
Communist Party general secret-
ary Luis Corvalan has condemn-

ed the junta to the world from |

his prison on Dawson Island,

(At a press conference earlier
in the day, Mr. Facio said that
although the repression in Chile
centinues, the political parties
were functioning again.

“This is especially true.of the

Communist Party,” he said.
“The central committee, most of
whose members are still in
Chile, has met recently. All the
regional committees are work-
ing. The Communist Party has
diffused material throughout the
entire breadth of Chile.’’)
, Continuing with his address,
Mr. Facio pointed out that soli-
darity actions around the world
have increased.

“The historic conference for
world trade union solidarity with
democratic Chile is taking place
in Lisbon where, only months
ago, trade unionists were them-
selves under the heel of fascism.
A youth conference is scheduled
to be held in Venezuela. — in
condemnation of fascism in La-
tin America. The 48-hour boy-
cott on Chilean transport called
by the International Transport
Workers Federation has been
endorsed by trade unions
throughout the world.

‘Living Force’

“This is the greatest tribute of
all in the dark days,” Mr. Facio
said, “Solidarity is a concrete
and living force which has direct
consequences in Chile. It has
saved lives. We wish this to be
clearly understood.”

He pointed out that an
test was responsible for the] af
allowing exiles to et b
called on people everyW)” iy
“intensify solidarity WM”
struggle.” oat

Guesente mbes 18, the chil et
people will mark th
sary of their independen :
Spain, Mr. Facio com fat
“That.anniversary must
lowed by a second indep' al
freedom from internation’ |
nopolies, and a victory,
even deeper in content. uni

A representative of the Coit!
sity of Toronto Sudent vel
also addressed the mst
where she spoke of the ‘ il
sibility of students a ofl
solidarity with the studen
university community ° volt
whose rights have been
by the junta. am

é To the Resistance’ i

After songs, a collects |
an appeal from David Pore
the Canadian Committee ; ui)
mocratic Spain, a mess#?, i
our brothers and sisters
Chilean resistance” ve
mously passed by the ’ ‘gn
and given to Mr. ee
to Chile: “We salute "))
have fallen, and stan® —|
those who are now if de
=. who, in-Dr Alena
words, ‘will open up ei
where free people ™# —
pass’. ae

“... to you who 4” ag
Chile we extend me yo
our hearts. We are wi oe
your battle cry is 0U j
CEREMOS.” py

The people of Canad si
take up their place at ai
of their heroic brothers ~
ters in Chile.

=

Gs anyone | have known”.

jailed.

process.

This is the face of fascism.

tu
LONDON — A distinguished British lawyer has '
from Chile with grim account of persecution, a
story of a woman who has “suffered as gravely fro

Mr. John Platts-Mill sew a woman who showed rand
scar on her thigh of a hammer and sickle as big 95"
inflicted by soldiers (see photo above). é

Her husband was a Communist who worked ! és
agency for the Popular Unity movement. He has 5!°

t Pa
Early in the morning of May 15, three machine-gu" now
junta men smashed down her door and demand . atl
about her husband's friends. When she refused 0 a
thing, she was raped in front of her children. A ™
three different men came, and went through

On the last visit on July 13 the men brought wit
soldering iron. It was plugged in and the hom striP
sickle was burned into her skin: “She was lying i
naked on the bed, again with the kids watching « —

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