LETTER TO DAVE DURENBERGER FROM EDWARD M. KENNEDY

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CIA-RDP90B01390R000500600047-8
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RIPPUB
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S
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5
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December 22, 2016
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January 25, 2011
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47
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Publication Date: 
June 15, 1986
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/25: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000500600047-8 Iq Next 2 Page(s) In Document Denied Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/25: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000500600047-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/25: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000500600047-8 EDWARD M. KENNEDY ,MAs"04 KTT$ ' Cnit.D .$f afss Is"Mta February 10, 1986 Senator Dave Durenberger Chairman Senate Select Committee on Intelligence United States Senate I am writing to request the assistance of your Committee on a matter of importance to me personally but also of some importance to the United States Senate as an institution. The purpose of this letter is respectfully to re- quest the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, after reviewing the available information, to report to the Senate about the Chilean Government's responsibility for and involvement in the planning and organizing of demon- strations that occurred in Santiago, Chile at the time of my trip to that country on January 15-16, 1986. If it is necessary to classify this report, I would be grateful if the Committee would also issue an unclassified summary of conclusions reporting the degree of the involvement of the Chilean Government -- if any -- in organizing these demonstrations. Thank you for your help on this. Edward M. Kennedy Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/25: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000500600047-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/25: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000500600047-8 l.virlrrlGJJlvt~AL KLLU1%L - JLNA I t January 30, 1986 in the location of the closed previously scheduled before at 10 a.m. The bearing will tike place in room SH-219 of the Senate Hart Office Building in Washington. DC. The purpose of the hearing is to re- ceive a briefing with respect to negoti- ations on Micronesian status. For further Information, please con- tact Jim Betrne at (202) 224-2564. AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO MEET svacoso[rrrn on; STRATEGIC AM THZATZZ WVCLLAI FORCE Mr. DANFORTH. Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that the Sub- committee on Strategic and Theater Nuclear Fortes, of the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, January 30, 1986, in order to conduct a hearing on antitactical ballistic missile defenses. The PRESIDING OFFICER. With- out objection, it is so ordered. sR1.TOCT COriKrTTEZ ON INTZ LIGCIC! Mr. DANFORTH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be author- ized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, January 30, 1986, in closed executive session, in order to receive an intelligence briefing. The PRESIDING OFFICER. With- out objection, it is so ordered. sU$COMflTai oil PUBLIC LARDS, azsgavED WATD, AND RESOURCES CONSERVATION Mr. DANFORTH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Sub- committee on Public Lands, Reserved Water, and Resource Conservation of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, January 30, to hold a hear- ing on Senate Joint Resolution 221 and House companion House Joint Resolution 382, to authorize the con- tinued use of certain lands within the Sequoia National Park by portions of an existing hydroelectric project and H.R. 3851, to amend section 901 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Con- servation Act. The PRESIDING OFFICER. With- out objection, it is so ordered COMxrrrn ON AGRICULTURE. RCTaiTION. AND FORISTRT Mr. DANFORTH. Mr. 41resident, I ask unanimous consent that the Com- mittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, January 30. 1986, in order to receive testimony on the Farmers Home Ad- ministration loan servicing regulations and a General Accounting Office report on PmHA's farm loan portfolio. The PRESIDING OFFICER. With- out objection, it is to ordered THE CHILEAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ? Mr. DURENBERGER. Mr. Presi- dent, the Chilean Human Rights Com- mission was founded in 1978 by Dr. Jaime Castillo and other prominent Chileans from various fields seeking a secular human rights organization to monitor violations of human rights and to work to restore the rights guar- anteed in the international human rights treaties that Chile has signed Since its founding, and despite the many obstacles placed in its path by Chile's military government, the Com- mission's accomplishments have been impressive. The Commission has estab- lished a network of human rights or- ganizations throughout Chile. With the support of these regional group;. the Commission monitors the status of human rights and publishes monthly informational bulletins. The Commis- sion is one of the most highly respect- ed organizations in Chile and has been accepted as an affiliate of several lead- ing international human rights organi- zations, such as: the International Commission of Jurists, Geneva; the International Federation of Human Rights, Paris; and the International League for Human Rights, New York. The Commission's President, Dr. Castillo, served as Minister of Justice in the Christian Democratic govern- ment of President Eduardo Frei in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Maximo Pacheco Gomez, the Commission's Vice President since 1978, was the Minister of Education in President Frei's government and served as the dean of the faculty of law at the Uni- versity of Chile in Santiago. Since last August, it appears that the government of President Augusto Pinochet has intensified its pressure against the Commission and its affili- ates. In August, Chilean police tempo- rarily detained Dr. Castillo for reading a proclamation that reminded Chil- eans of their obligation and right to uphold basic human rights. More than 20 others associated with the Commis- sion were arrested at the same time. On November 29. the Commission's national offices in Santiago were raided, ransacked, and its documents were confiscated by armed plain. clothesmen. One Commission employ- ee was beaten so severely that she re- quired hospitalization. This attack preceded by one week the visit to Chile by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Chile, Prof. Fernando Volio of Costa Rica. This attack was just one of more than a dozen similar incidents In 1985 of plainclothemen at- tacking Chilean human rights defend- ers and ransacking their offices. On January 15, Senator KawMxvT visited Chile to meet with representa- tives of the democratic opposition and Chilean human rights organizations. Upon his arrival at Santiago, he was confronted by a violent demonstration by members of the Independept Democratic Union, a pro-Pinochet group. Chilean police did not act to re- strain the demonstrators and Senator KzwwrDT was forced to leave the air. port by helicopter. At the same time, three of the Commission's leaders were approaching the airport and were themselves attacked by UDI demon. strators. Their car was damaged and Dr. Castillo was injured. Once again, Chilean police stood aside and did nothing while the attack was under. way. It now appears that high-ranking officials of the Chilean Government were actively engaged in the planning and the implementation of this dem- onstration. If this is true. President Pinochet's government owes Senator 8sanranT an apology and should con- duct a thorough investigation into this incident. Most recently, Dr. Pacheco, and his family have again been the targets of harassment. At noon on January 18. Dr. Pacheco's maid, Rosa Espinoza Baeza, was abducted by plainclothes- men and driven to a remote location on the outskirts of Santiago. She was held and interrogated by her kidnap- pers for 14 hours, when she was re- turned to the center of Santiago on the morning of January 19. During Ms. Espinoza's interrogation, her kid- nappers' questioning focused on Dr. Pacheco's contacts in the United States and on the January 15 visit of Senator KnrwIT to Chile. It is my hope that the Pinochet government will cease its attacks against the Chile- an Human Rights Commission and that it will allow the Commission to conduct its Important humanitarian efforts. Mr. President, I ask that two articles on the Chilean Human Rights Com- mission as well as two summaries of attacks on the Commission be printed in the RECORD. The material follows: PROTEST HINDERS Kzxwny IN CHILI; (By Lydia Chavez) SANTIAGO, CHILE. Jan. 15-Senator Edward M. Kennedy, arriving here today on a tour of South America, was forced to leave the airport by police helicopter after dozens of pro-Government demonstrators blocked a highway. Some of the protesters wore life preserv- era and carried photographs of Mary Jo Ko- pechne, who died in the Senator's 1969 automobile accident at Chappaquiddick. The demonstration was organized by the In- dependent Democratic Union, a party that supports the military Government. The police, generally fierce with crowds, did little to hinder the protest. The airport protesters were greatly out- numbered elsewhere by people who warmly welcomed Mr. Kennedy. In a second incident later in the day, the Massachusetts Democrat's car was struck by a stone and eggs as he left a rehabilitation center after a tour. Jamie Castillo, the presi- dent of the Chilean Human Rights Commis- sion, was injured slightly when a stone smashed the window of his car. President Augusto Pinochet has refused to meet with the Senator, calling him a "enemy" of the people because of his spon- Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/25: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000500600047-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/25: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000500600047-8 .ja 1081 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - SENATE S 769 thus breaking all the windows One rock struck Dr. Castillo to the back of the neck and bits of shattered glass cut his head, face and back. During this entire incident civilian police officers of the Carabnneros. standing close by. did nothing-. they neither moved to pro tect the Commission members. nor attempt. ed to break up the menacing crowd. In fact. according to the testim ny of Maximo Pa- chem. the protesters acted while the Cars- bineroo were "absolutely pastve." Dr. Pa- checo bellieves that if be had been hit and did not advance the car, the crowd would have killed them. However. the Commission members suc- ceeded in escaping from the mob. and Dr. Castillo was quickly taken for medical treat- ment. The vehicle they drove is estimated to have sustained substantial damage. The Chilean Human Rights Cosrtmaaion fears that similar incidents may happen again. On November 29. 198& the national offices of the Commmssion were ransacked by armed intruders who beat an employee so severely she had to be hospitalized. In Chilean newspapers. the UDI's organizers stated that their actions of January 15 -met with great success" and that they were very satisfied witli tine results of the day. Dr. Pacl,e.o commented on the latest tnei- dent "it is a sad state of affs.rs when we cannot even greet an American Senator without risking our lives." clam of the military Government. "I am told that there are some people who regard me as an enemy of Chile.- Mr Ken- nedy said. "1 am not an enemy of C'hileans- I am an enemy of kditapptng. murder and arbitrary arrests " The Senator. flanked by his asters Jean Smith and Patricia Lawford. came here for a 24-hour visit. In the last week. the Senator has met with the Presidents of Brazil, Uruguay and ArVeattins to talk about the foreign debt crisis that has thrown their fled!gimg de- raocads trots recessims. In Artmtina, he also met with political exiles from Pars- Mr. Kennedy in his airport statement said he would be the first to support renewed aid if "Chile were once again to respect basic human rights." He added that Congress at one time or anoUier has banned aid to Cuba. Guatemala, Nicaragua. Uruguay and Argentina became of present or past abuse of human rights. The Senator met today with political lead- era who recently signed a United States-sups Ported agreement. rejected by the Govern- ment. that calls for a return to full democ- racy here. Juan Francisco Cardinal Fresno I.arrain, who supported the pact. declined to meet with Mr. Kennedy, saying his visit was polit- ical, but church sources said he supported the visit But other church officials, includ- ing Raul Silva Cardinal Renriquez. met with the Senator. Aooovar or Itscistar AT SArrTiAGo AIaroar ON LsuAay 15 INVOLVING OvstctaLs or as Cianjan Swag Raoam Coansstos (Source: International Priends of the Chilean Human Rights Commission) On Wednesday, January 15. 1986. at ap- proximately 10:00 am. three principal offi- cers of the Chilean Human Rights Commis- sion were assaulted by a mob. Jaime Castillo Velasco. President. Maximo Pacheco Gomez. Vice-President. and Gonzalo Ta- borga Molina, Director for International Relations were driving from the Santiago airport towards the city. They had gone to the airport to greet Senator Edward Kenne- dy. Democrat of Massachusetts, who has been a consistent and prominent critic of human rights abuses in Chile during the last decade. The purpose of Senator Kenne- dy's visit was to meet with Commission members and other human rights groups, church groups, and influential political and social figures. hear testimony of victims of human rights abuse and discuss, in general, the situation of human rights in Chile. Due to the hostile reception that the Senator re- ceived at the airport by nearly 500 student protesters of the Independent De'n,ocrattc Union (UDI), the Senator had to leave the airport by police helicopter for security pur- poses Dr. Pacheco and Dr. Castillo in the front seats and Gonzalo Taborga in the rear, were diving together with a long line of existing vehicies slowly along the road from the air- port- A crowd of highly charged protesters was chanting "Ted go home." One kilometer from the airport itself, and not quite 10 meters from a Carabinero station. one of the protesters spotted Dr. Pacheco's car and shouted. "Here comes Castillo and Pa- cbeco." Within moments the Commission members found themselves surrounded by approximately 100 armed Individuals, some reportedly students of the UDI. others be- longing to different youth groups. The pro- testers. who were well organized. began to throw rocks, sticks and eggs at the vehicle. (From the New York Times. Dec. 7, 1985) G;,wm IN CHILE SAID To Sh=at. RiciTs Docrxrrrrs By Robert O. Boorstin) Armed gunmen in the Chilean capital of Santiago stormed into the office of the na- tions leading human rights group and re moved documents that had been compiled for a United Nations investigation, members of the group said this week. The commission members said the assail- ants beat the wife of an employee of the Chilean Commission on Human Rights and ransacked the offices in central Santiago during the attack last werk- Htiman rights commission m tubers and officials of the New York-based Internation- al League for Human Rights said that al- though the; could not identify the gunmen, recent patterns of human rights abuses in Chile suggested that they might have been operating with the knowledge of the Gov- ernment of Prtsident Augusta Pinochet. "This is a special kind of harassment-" German Mo!irm national secretary of the commission. said Wednesday in a telephone interview from Santiago. GROt? LC'CS RICRTS ABLSirS The commission. established in 19'8. is made up or prominent Chileans attempting to t,!og.ie human rights abuses and seek judicial ' 'rnidies. Juan Prado. press attache of the Chilean E--:baa.y in Washington, said charges of in- timidati,n oy groups connected to the Gov- ernment Aire silly' and "stupid." -I land absurd and completely devoid of logic.' he said. ' that anybody in his right sense of rn.r d would commit such an assault in Santiago an the eve of the visit by a rep- resentative of the United Nations." The vls;t by the investigator. Prof Fer- nando Folio, would mark the first time In the s:ii year history of the special investiga tors position that the Pinochet Govern- ment had egreed to permit a United Nations inieztitiator to go to Chile to collect infor- mation on human rights. Mr. Volio is a former Foreign Minister of Costa Rica. In a telegram to General Ptnochet on Wednesday night, the New York-based International Pnends of the Chilean Hunan Rights Contmision urged appropri- ate authorities to "undertake a full invesd- gatton and prosecute the perpetrators -' The recen'iy formed group of former and current public officials inciudes the chum man of the Senate Select Committee on in telligence, Dave Durenberger. Republican of Minnesota, and is headed by former Secre- tary of State Cyrus R. Vance In a related development. the Reagan Ad ministration urged the Ptnochet Govern went on Thursday to accept the recommen- dations of the United Nauoos report by Mr. Volio. The report calls for Increased Protec- tion for church and human rights activists, an end to the practice of internal bantsh- meat of anti-Government activists and the strengthening of judicial procedures Accocrrr or RAxsAcnrn.c OF CHILEAN HUMAN Rtcxrs Cosrtrtssioi Orrrci or NovtrxsQ 28 On Friday morning, November 29. 1985. at approximately 8:45 Lin. two men armed with revolvers rang the doorbell of the Chil- ean Commission for Human Rights. Marina Rodrigues, the 42-year-old caretaker (cuida- dora) answered and was told that they had a letter to deliver to the secretary of the Commission, Bessi Saavedra` Sra. Rodri- guez who Lives on the premises with her family-, advised them that the Commission would not open to the public until 10 00 a.m. The men then pushed her aside violently. One beat her with his fists and revolver causing a concussion. The other intruder went straight to the secretary's office. He broke down the door and destroyed the fur- niture within the room. He- was allegedly searching for some "special document." The caretaker's two daugbters, 20 and 22 ;ears old, respectively, tried to help their mother and carry her to the apartment in the same building. The men threatened them with death. The two attackers then entered other Commission offices "searching for an em- ployee" and proceeded to destroy archives and correspondence of the Commission. When they left. 25 minutes later. they took with them two private. confidential address- telephone books and three documents which the Commission planned to publish The Rights to the Physical and Moral In- tegrrty of Individuals Under the 1980 Politi cal Constitution": "The Organic Law Re- garding States of Exception": and. --Terror- ism. Antiterrorism and Human Rights". Marina Rodriguez testified that while being beaten her attackers shouted "Now you will know the hand of the CNL" (The CNI, (Central National de Informaciones, or the National Intelligence Agency) is the Chi',ean secret security police force identi- fied by international organizations as the agency linked to torture and other human r.?r s abtse.) To date. the police investiga- t,on of the attack on the Commission re- ported that this was a common crime. aJ- though nothing of material value was taken. Kra. Rodriguez is still hospitalized In the Costa Central Hospital in Santiago. Source: International Friends of the Chil- ear. Human. Rights Commission.? INTERNATIONAL TRADE 1985 ? Mr LUGAR. Mr. President, this morning the Department of Com- merce announced preliminary U.S. trade results for December 1985 and all of 1985. The news is not very posi- tive. In December the U.S. trade defi- cit was $17.4 billion and for the year the trade deficit was $149 billion. This Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/25: CIA-RDP90B01390R000500600047-8 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/25: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000500600047-8 Iq Next 4 Page(s) In Document Denied Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/01/25: CIA-RDP90BO139OR000500600047-8