home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
TIME: Almanac 1990
/
1990 Time Magazine Compact Almanac, The (1991)(Time).iso
/
time
/
081489
/
08148900.020
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1990-09-17
|
1KB
|
23 lines
WORLD, Page 42World NotesCHILESetting The Stage
The government and the opposition both claimed victory, but
democracy was the real winner last week as Chileans voted
overwhelmingly to institute 54 reforms to the 1980 constitution.
A lopsided majority of 85.7% of the voters approved the measures,
which clear the way for an elected government. Among them:
legalization of nonviolent Marxist parties, ratification of all
international human-rights laws signed by the Chilean government,
and a simplified process of enacting future reforms. Only 8.2% of
the voters rejected the reforms, while a mere 6.3% abstained.
But Chileans still have their history to worry about. Fernando
Matthei, the moderate commander in chief of the air force, hinted
that a coup was possible if the opposition candidate ever makes
good on his pledge to repeal the 1978 amnesty for crimes committed
by the Chilean armed forces from 1973 to 1978. But after the
opposition suggested that such a decision would be left to the
"elected authorities," Matthei seemed mollified. Now many are
hoping the exchange sets off a constructive dialogue between the
armed forces and the opposition to defuse the issue before a new
government is elected next December.