Chile Replaces Top Police Officer, Bolsters Security

Shaken by a growing uproar over charges of police involvement in a triple political assassination, Chile’s military regime bolstered security Saturday after warning that it will use “the most drastic measures” to keep public order.

The day before, riot police battled angry demonstrators in Santiago for more than 10 hours. At least 13 people were wounded and 79 demonstrators arrested, according to the government.

Soldiers were seen guarding bridges, power stations and other key installations Saturday, and the country was reported calm.

President Augusto Pinochet, five weeks away from his 12th anniversary in power, Friday night brought a hard-line general to the four-man ruling military junta and to head the Carabineros, the powerful national uniformed police.

Gen. Rodolfo Stange, 59, replaced Gen. Cesar Mendoza, 66, as junta member and director of the 30,000-man police force, considered a key element of Pinochet’s support.

Mendoza resigned Friday night after a civilian judge announced that a four-month investigation had produced “clear evidence” that 14 Carabineros were involved in the March 30 killings of three activists of the outlawed Communist Party. The victims’ bodies, with throats slit, were dumped on a road to Santiago airport.

Demonstrators surged to the streets shouting “Murderers!” and “Justice now!” after the judge disclosed results of his investigation. Opposition politicians were among the demonstrators.

In announcing the change Friday night, Pinochet warned that his government will use “the most drastic measures” to maintain order and quell protests.

Other high government officials promptly backed the 69-year-old general’s warnings.

Interior Minister Ricardo Garcia told reporters that the government is already taking unspecified security measures “to prevent actions against public order.”

And Francisco Cuadra, the regime’s top spokesman, called the protests part of a Communist-inspired plan to unleash violence. Without offering details, he said the government will take whatever measures are needed to keep order.

The overall political situation remained difficult for the military regime as the investigation continued in the case of the slain Communists. The civilian judge, Jose Canovas, transferred the case to a military court because the Carabineros are part of the military.

The military judge now in charge, Samuel Rojas, is to announce Monday whether he will bring the officers to trial. The government has said it will respect the court’s decision.