CHILE (continued)
CONFIDENTIAL
Right No.
(v) ability to apply the law of habeas
corpus, is closely circumscribed by the state of siege. Moreover, cer-
tain crimes continue to be the re- sponsibility of military courts.
Rating suggested by Post
(vi) Trade unions are not allowed to hold free elections; there is no right to strike; collective bargaining does not exist; a number of communist and other trade unions have been banned; in most cases, workers' representatives are simply appointed by the Government.
(vii) Very few people, including even former
political detainees, are denied permis- sion to leave Chile. Moreover, the Government has recently announced that all those who have sought exile since September 1973 can freely return to Chile. There is an active programme under which convicted prisoners can apply for their sentences to be commuted to exile, and most applications are granted.
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CONFIDENTIAL