CAMPUS AND AREA
University Daily Kansan, November 30, 1984
Page 8
Ex-union leader wants ouster of Pinochet
Francisco Gonzalez, a former Chilean trade union leader, tells a crowd in the Kansas Union that U.S. intervention in Chile will largely determine how long the reign of President Augusto Pinochet will last.
By MICHELLE REDWOOD Staff Reporter
U. S. intervention in Chile will determine how long the military dictatorship of President Augusto Pinochet will last, a former Chilean trade union leader said yesterday.
Francisco Gonzalez, the former union leader, spent three years in Chilean concentration camps and was exiled in 1977. He is part of a U.S. tour promoting the overthrow of Pinochet.
His speech yesterday to about 50 people in the Cottonwood Room of the Kansas Union was sponsored by Latin American Solidarity. Gonzalez spoke in Spanish, translated by an interpreter.
"WE'RE CALLING ON all democratic-minded youth to denounce all military and economic aid the U.S. is giving to Pinochet, to denounce the violence and oppression of Pinochet and to help us in Chile to realize our struggle." Gonzalez said.
Pinochete declared a state of siege in Chile Nov. 6 in response to growing unrest and violence. The military government deployed thousands of soldiers throughout the capital of Santiago on Tuesday to avert a two-day mass protest called by a coalition of opposition groups. Gonzalez said more demonstrations were planned for yesterday and today.
He said Pinochet could not win an election if one were to take place, because a survey by the Roman Catholic Church of Chile indicated that 85 percent of Chileans opposed the military dictatorship.
GONZALEZ SAID THE REAGAN administration was prevented by Congress from granting overt military aid to Chile. But U.S. aid is sent
of workers to participate in industrial decision-making was disliked by foreign industries and Chilean upper classes, Gonzalez said.
In September 1973, Pinochet's government came to power in a military coup. Gonzalez said the United States participated in Allende's overthrow. Henry Kissinger, the International Telephone and Telegraph Corp., the AFL-CIO and the CIA played significant roles in
'We're calling on all democratic-minded youth to denounce all military and economic aid the U.S. is giving to Pinochet, to denounce the violence and oppression of Pinochet and to help us in Chile to realize our struggle.'
Francisco Gonzalez,
exiled Chilean union leader
through Israel, the country that buys the most U.S. arms. Israel is the largest supplier of arms to El Adador Guatemala and Chile. He
In order to understand problems in Chile, it is necessary to look to its past. Gonzalez said.
The future looked very different for Chile 14 years ago. In 1970 Marxist Salvador Allende was elected president. Allende's nationalization of major industries and encouragement
Chile plays a key role in U.S. military strategy, he said. Besides the Panamad Canal, the strait of Guajara and the strait of Chacao which U.S. ships can reach the
planning and financing the coup, he said. Subsequent U.S. Senate investigations revealed that Kissinger, ITT and the CIA supported the coup.
WITH PINOCHET IN power, American businesses regained control of industry. Gonzalez said.
Pacific Ocean. Gonzalez said the United States, in order to carry out its policies and maintain control of America, needed to hold sway over Chile.
Gonzalez said Chileans, after experiencing many forms of government, had come to favor socialism.
"Under Allende the people had never been closer to assuming power, Gonzalez said. "The last time we have lived the other extreme."
When Pinochet came to power, he closed parliament, outlawed political parties and trade unions and abandoned the constitution. Fifty though many were killed, 3,000 disappeared and more million were exiled. Gonzalez said.
UNDER ALLENDE THE MILITARY was 90,000 strong; today it has 220,000 soldiers. The foreign debt has risen from $4 billion in 1973 to $28 billion and unemployment is about 35 percent, he said.
Gonzalez said that Chileans would stand and fight if outside forces invaded. The United States would have to spend it times the amount of money and lives that were spent in manhuit if decided to intervene, he said.
Chileans want to decide their future, he said, and outside forces don't have that right.
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