Speech #930139242

President. on October 18. I wrote to Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger to express my concern over conditions in Chile. particularly the difficult situation of political refugees and the continuing violation of human rights. Although the record does suggest that a measure of progress has been made in this important area of international concern. a tremendous gap continues to exist between the actions of the Chilean authorities and their repeated assurances on human rights questions to various international organizations and to other governments. Because of numerous reports regarding personal tragedy and human rights violations in the aftermath of the coup in Chile. I urgently appealed on September 12 for humanitarian initiatives by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The military government in Chile subsequently admitted representatives from these international humanitarian organizations and has committed itself to the humane treatment of political prisoners and the protection of political refugees and others in distress. Several thousand refugees are now awaiting safe conduct out of the country under international auspices. In supporting the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. I urged Secretary Kissinger and the Department of State to respond positively to the appeal of the High Commissioner on October 17 to provide resettlement opportunities for political refugees in Chile who wish to migrate to other countries. In light of the fact that there are now a number of applications for refugee visas to the United States pending at the American Embassy in Santiago. I believe the time is long overdue for our Government to express its willingness to assist in this resettlement effort of the U.N. High Commissioner. I urge the administration to take immediate steps to provide asylum and resettlement opportunities in our country to a reasonable number of political refugees in Chile. under the parole provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The time to act is now. And. as we have done with refugees from Hungary. Czechoslovakia. and Cuba. and more recently in the case of Asians from Uganda. this humanitarian gesture is in keeping both with the law and our past traditions. Mr. President. I ask unanimous consent that the full text of my letter to Dr. Kissinger and my questions to the Department of State on developments in Chile. as well as the text of the appeal by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. be printed in the RECORD.