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CHRONOLOGY - 1977
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JUNE 14, 1977
A hunger strike is held in the offices of the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America in Santiago to draw attention to the problem of the disappeared.
JULY 9, 1977
General Augusto Pinochet outlines the stages of a gradual transition to a "new democracy," effectively prolonging the military regime until 1985. In a speech at Cerro Chacarillas, Pinochet states that this transition would begin January 1, 1981 with some constitutional reforms and would culminate with the restoration of a legislative chamber. The Junta would continue to exist and would designate two-thirds of the legislature until 1985. After that time, legislators would be elected by popular vote. The opposition criticizes Pinochet's plan to prolong the military regime well into the future.
AUGUST 13, 1977
The DINA secret police is dissolved and replaced by the National Information Central (CNI). The broad powers exercised by the DINA and its implication in the Letelier assassination are deemed by the regime to be damaging its international image and precipitate the demise of the secret agency. Many of the key DINA leaders are given important posts in the CNI, which is dependent on the Defense Ministry rather than the Interior Ministry, as was its predecessor. Many opponents of the regime interpreted the dissolution of the DINA as a sign that repression against them would slacken, but over time the CNI proved to play virtually the same role as the DINA had.
NOVEMBER 10, 1977
The CNI intelligence agency issues its first public statement confirming that two "extremists" die in an explosion in San Miguel, Santiago.
DECEMBER 5 1977
The United Nations condemns the Chilean regime for "the continued and inadmissible violation of human rights." Some sectors show surprise at the condemnation and particularly the United States' vote against the Chilean regime, given that the DINA had been dissolved.
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