PINOCHET FEARS CIA COUP, OFFICIALS SAY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000302230009-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 27, 2012
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: January 9, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/09/27: CIA-RDP90-00965R000302230009-6
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PINO6ET FEARS-t1A-E6U0,?grftIALS:SAY
BY GEORGE GEDDA
WASHINGTON
The Reagan administration's efforts to promote a democratic transition in
Chile have failed partly because President Augusto Pinochet is convinced the
-CIA is plotting to oust his government, American officials say.
Pinochet's refusal to permit a democratic opening after 11 years of military
rule has distressed the administration, and some officials believe the result
will be a continuing increase in violence, possibly leading to "permanent
.destabilization."
However, the officials, who asked not to be identified, said they do not feel
that a communist takeover is likely because Chile's army remains a highly
disciplined, anti-Marxist force.
U.S. attempts at quietly encouraging an internal dialogue in Chile leading to
a democratic transition have given way to a far more public posture since
Pinochet imposed a state of siege on Nov. 6.
"Pinochet believes the CIA is out to overthrow him," one senior official
said. "All actions by the United States are viewed by him with Suspicion."
Asked about Pinochet's reported concerns, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
Lowell Kilbay said Tuesday that American policy is to "encourage a transition to
democracy in Chile in a way and at a pace that can be agreed to by Chileans
themselves without in any way intervening in the political processes of the
country."
But American influence is limited partly because Chile receives no U.S.
economic or military assistance. The United States has, however, generally
supported Chilean loan requests in international lending institutions.
Since the state of siege was declared, mass raids have been carried out on
working class neighborhoods, hundreds of political activists have been sentenced
to internal exile and press censorship has been strictly enforced, with some
_publications shut down altogether. Kilday said the United States is "very
hopeful" the state of siege will be lifted as soon as possible.
Confronted with an end to what had been a period of limited political
liberalization, the Reagan administration has initiated a policy of
reassessment. As a first step, President Reagan plans to replace U.S. Ambassador
James Theberge, a political appointee, with the U.S. ambassador in India, career
diplomat Harry .Barnes, the officials said.
They said Barnes' principal task will be to win.the confidence of both the
government and-the democratic opposition.
Pinochet believes, however, that the alternative to his government is the
restoration of leftist rule in Chile. In justifying the state of'siege, Pinochet
said recently, "The people asked me for the hard hand and I gave it."
Continued
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/09/27: CIA-RDP90-00965R000302230009-6