Chile Extends Its Emergency Powers

The military government Saturday extended its emergency powers to restrict civil liberties and press freedom for 90 days by publishing two decrees in the Official Bulletin.

One decree, citing “an internal threat to national security,” renewed the state of emergency under which President Augusto Pinochet has ruled Chile most of his 12 years in power. It permits the government to impose curfews, such as those now in force in Santiago and two other cities, and to bar anyone from entering or leaving the country.

Another decree extended a 90-day ban on reporting “information or opinions” of opposition activities in the Chilean news media. The press ban has rarely been enforced in recent months.