systematic arbitrary actions of Popular Unity'.
of the moment' The declaration was published after a series of contacts between junta chief Pinochet and leaders of the Christian Democrat party, It is undoubtedly the first stew in the Junta's search for a 'new face", following the collapse of its attempts "decadent professional politicians. These decadent gentlemen are now its only possible prop.
The declaration aims to boost the junta's campaign to improve its international image. The regime is anxious to reassure polential foreign investors that the internal situation is returning to notmal now has been crushed, the repression is therefore being eased, and that a stable and strong government exists which has the social and political support of wide sectors of the popREPRESSION The reality, of course, is very different. The repression is just as widespread and intensive, with continuing mass arrests and further atrocities. The most recent of these was the murder of the young MIR militant Luni Videla Maya, who was strangled and thrown into the garden of the Defence of Chilean Health Workers.
Dear Dr. Stereason Since the coup in Chile in September 1973, a number of Chilcan doctors bave come to this country and are now working in the National Health Servios.
Their personal reports concerning their own experiences and first hand knowledge information from the international press, British journalists and international organIsations such as the World Council of DENUNCIASERENOR CAMILA BI Jurss, and Amnesty internanon ai, tat in Chile since September 1973 there has been systematic persacution of plysicians and health workers. Many have heen arrested withour trial and tortured to The Emergeocy Comitios to save Chilean Health Workers, formed in the USA, has documented evidenos of 65 health workers who bave boen executed - many or thea internalionally known medical and public health workers, experts in their tield - and 174 held in prison or under house arrest.
As a result of our concer, British doctor have joined with otber health workers te form The Committee for ine Detence or cercan Heatt workers (CDCHW), This includes doctors, nunes, health visitors and techniciens. A fortnight ago 27 well-known politicians of the Chilean right -mostly members of the Christian Democrat party - issued a They called upon the population to close ranks behind the junta in a policy of national unity to face the serious problems Junta chief Pinochet-repression still his Italian Embassy in Santiago during the night of 3 November.
Repression continues to be the main weapon of the junta, It has no alterantive means of maintaining its The following open letter to the British Medical Association was sent to the Secretary, Dr Derek Stevenson, on 12 November by the Committee for the L. Obtaining accurate information about Health Worken illegally detained, imprsonod, or being persecuted at the present 2. Taking active steps to bring presure on Chilean authorities to release such persons, or give an account of the charpes on which 3. Arranging for financial aid, employment and accommodation for persons in danger who wish to emigrate (this las proved Highly efective in oblaining the reicase of Ar acHare protessionar bouy in ine world in medicine, we feel the BMA has an obligation to take elloctive steps to: 1. Write to the Chilean Colegio Medico to ascertain the fate of: - Tormer Minister of Health, presumod to be unor house arrest, Hugo Behn - former Director of the Department of Public Health, Professor of Biostatistics, Santiago; Patricia Barcelo Amado Caron General Practitionet of Cautin Province; Alvaro Vaner del Villar - Consultanl Plysician: Bruno Garcia - Psychiatrist of Valdivia Province: 2. Inform the Colegio Medico of the concete of the Brilish Medical Association over reports of doctors participating in has been shown among other things leader Miguel Enriquez - when alogans were painted in tribute on the statement of the MIR Political Committee was widely circulated in the factories and shanty towns. The second clandestine edition of the appeared; the first appeared in August, and 20,000 copies were distributed throughour the country.
lowns, offices, universities, etc - i5 also growing daily.
ILLUSIONS coup by the right-wing politicians Christian Democral leaders.
of the revolutionary lett - notably the MIR, and also our comrades of the Liga Comunista acted from the first in acordance with their statements chat it is necneuvre.
throw of the junta.
carrying out torture. 3. Consider sending a dologation of obs envers to Chile to investigate the current situation. 4. Take active steps to facilitate the exodus of codangered Chilean doctors and other health personnel, by writing to the British Airbassador in Santiago with offers of emplayment for such persons.
activities hy pressure groups in the USA and other countries Jave alroady been and emigration of a large ounbor of highly skilled medical personnel. The American Public Houth Asociation, with 25,000 memhers, last month passed a resolution to send a delegate to Chile to investigate the current siruation.
kindly respond to this formal roquest stating the HMM's position with respect to treso matters, and specifying what immediate action they ate prepared to take, Yours sincerei!
Dr. Roland Littlewood, Tor CDCHW.
Hackney Hospital, London E9.
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statement of support for the September 1973 military coup as *the only alternative to the situation of economic chaos and