CONFIDENTIAL
16. Latin American Debt:
Proposed Meeting with Summit Seven
The Latin American nations who are due to meet in Mar del Plata on 13 September intend to issue an invitation to the Western Summit nations to attend a joint Ministerial level meeting to discuss the debt problem. FCO and Treasury officials consider that discussion should be steered instead into the IBRD Development Committee Meeting on 23 September.
We are consulting the other Summit nations.
17. Chile Solidarity Campaign visit to Chile
A delegation from the Chile Solidarity Campaign, including Mr Don Anderson MP, Dame Judith Hart MP and various UK trade unionists, will visit Chile from 8-15 September. This will follow the 4-5 September Day of Protest organised by the Democratic Alliance and will coincide with the 11 September anniversary of the 1973 coup. The Chilean Government have asked them to respect 'current legal dispositions', abstain from public political activity and avoid interfering in Chile's internal affairs. Comprehensive instructions sent to Santiago on handling the visit take the line that this is a private visit. But the Embassy will brief, entertain and assist the delegation. The Embassy will avoid playing down the human rights abuses, but will equally not dwell on individual cases which, out of context, might be exploited by the delegation. Mr Whitney discussed the visit with Mr Anderson on 30 August. The Guardian of the same day reported that the group's main purpose was to convey the Labour Party's support for the democratic opposition in Chile (rather than to carry out a fact-finding mission).
18. Security Situation in Peru
In
The security situation in Peru is of growing concern. response to an intensified campaign of violence by the Maoist guerrillas, Sendero Luminoso, the attitude of the authorities has hardened noticeably. The military are taking over full responsibility from the police for counter terrorist operations in the emergency zone in South East Peru. The Army Commander, who had favoured a hearts and minds approach to the problem, including the commitment of extra resources to improve the position of the local peasantry, has been dismissed. The discovery of fifty mutilated bodies in an unmarked mass grave has increased suspicions that the Security Forces may be committing gross violations of human rights.
CONFIDENTIAL
/19. Grenada
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.