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In November 1974, an alleged attempted coup against the government was defeated. A state of siege was declared and severely repressive measures were decreed: political parties were placed in recession and all political activities with- in the trade union movement were banned. As a result, numerous trade unionists were detained, and their cases were taken up by AI.
The main target for these measures appeared to be the trade union movement and, following the introduction of a system of compulsory civil service, a number of trade unionists were nominated as labour coordinators throughout the country. Their task was to ensure that management and labour worked together on a non-political basis. Certain trade union leaders refused these posts including Victor Lopez Arias, Secretary General of the Bolivian Miners' Federation, who is still under arrest at the time of writing.
When confirmation of these arrests was received by AI, Martin Ennals wrote to President Banzer expressing grave concern over the nature of the new legisla- tion and the number of arrests that had taken place during the preceding month. At the same time, AI circulated a memorandum to a number of international labour federations, documenting the arrests of trade unionists and the persistent violations of human rights, particularly that of labour freedom.
The Bolivian Committee for Justice and Peace (CJP) intervened shortly after- wards and the acting president, Father Eric de Wasseige, a Belgian citizen, was arrested and given 24 hours to leave the country.
However, after the period had expired and as a result of the most vigorous protests from Al and other international organizations, the order was suspended. But in March 1975, Father de Wasseige and another priest were summarily arrested and expelled from Bolivia for allegedly handling subversive literature. This is believed to be a reference to a publication by the CJP which documented the violent deaths of a large number of peasants in the Cochabamba valley, while they were protesting about the increase in food prices which had taken place in January and February.
To celebrate Easter, the Minister of the Interior announced a partial amnesty for 27 political prisoners. This was welcomed by the Committee for Justice and Peace, which then partially recessed its work for political prisoners.
AI has continued to press the Bolivian government either to release or bring to trial detained people. Money has also been allocated towards the expenses
of defence lawyers, if and when the trials should take place, and aid and the supply- ing of relief monies to help the families and improve the situation of political detainees has continued.
Brazil
President Ernesto Geisel of Brazil came to power in March 1974 promising a policy of gradual distensão and apertura (relaxation and opening), but a wave of arrests immediately following his inauguration, apparently by unofficial security groups, indicated that some groups were not prepared to allow a gradual liberal- ization of the Brazilian political scene. In a cable, Amnesty International drew the President's attention to these arrests and reports of torture. An Al news release on 21 June reported the finding of new bodies in various regions of Brazil, apparent death squad victim, and the arrest of Maria de Conceição