Chile Election
I ask that you take notice of the following factual errors in the editorial “But Watch It If Pinochet Grumbles” (Dec. 18).
* President Augusto Pinochet will be the commander of the Chilean army after the March, 1990, transition. President-elect Patricio Aylwin will be the commander of the armed forces. In fact, President Pinochet has publicly acknowledged this relationship in the past several days.
* The restoration of democracy in Chile, in fact, fulfills the commitment made by the Pinochet government in 1980. Chile’s consensus for restoration of democracy includes a large plurality (40%-45%) who did not vote for Aylwin and support the conservative policies the Pinochet government has followed. For example, I would draw your attention to the strong showing by conservative candidates in congressional elections.
Your paper and others in the United States continue to look for possible conflict between the Chilean armed forces and the victorious political coalition behind Aylwin, yet fail to notice that the December elections represent victory for the center, not extremes. The bright future of South America’s most prosperous free-market democracy deserves critical, but objective attention that acknowledges all aspects of the Chilean political scene.
CHRISTOPHER WHALEN
Washington, D.C.
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