Latin America 1978 Edited by Grace M. Ferrara Writer: Christopher Hunt Facts On File 119 West 57th Street, New York, N.Y. 10019 Latin America 1978 ® Copyright, 1979, by Facts oìsFile, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the permission of the publisher except for reasonably brief extracts used in reviews or scholarly works. Published by Facts on File, Inc., 119 West 57th Street, New York, N.Y. 10019. The Library of Congress Cataloged This Serial as Follows: Main entry under title: Latin America. 1972. New York, Facts on File, inc. v. 24 cm. annual. (A Facts on File publication) ISSN 0094-7458 1. Latin America—Periodicals. I. Facts on File, inc., New York. F1401.L325 918'.005 73-83047 rev ' MARC-S ISBN 0-87196-258-6 987654321 PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Contents Page INTRODUCTION..................................................................... 1 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS........................................... 3 Press Censorship................................................................ 7 Economic & Other Developments.................................. 8 Beagle Channel Territorial Dispute................................ 11 ARGENTINA............................................................................. 15 Prisoners & Rights Abuses.............................................. 15 Government & Politics...................................................... 18 Terrorism............................................................................. 20 Economy............................................................................. 21 Territorial Disputes............................................................ 23 Other Developments.......................................................... 26 BOLIVIA................................................................................... 27 Elections Precede Military Coups................................... 27 Other Developments.......................................................... 32 BRAZIL....................................................................................... 33 Military Rule Continues Following Presidential Election............................................................................. 33 Abuses of Human Rights................................................. 39 Labor Unrest....................................................................... 40 Economy................................................................ 42 Atomic Energy.................................................................... 44 CHILE.......................................................................................... 45 Letelier Assassination Probe............................................ 45 Military Control Eased, Civil Liberties Restricted....... 53 Human Rights Abuse......................................................... 56 Economic Developments.................................................. 60 Labor Unrest....................................................................... 61 Beagle Channel Dispute.................................................... 62 Other Developments........................................................... 64 COLOMBIA................................................................................ 65 Liberals Retain Power, Turbay Elected President....... 65 Guerrilla Attacks, Student & Labor Unrest.................. 69 Other Developments........................................................... 72 CUBA................................. 74 U.S. Relations & Political Prisoners............................... 74 African Involvement......................................................... 77 Economic Developments................................................... 79 DOMINICAN REPUBLIC................................................... 80 Opposition Wins Presidential Election............................ 80 Other Developments........................................................... 86 ECUADOR.................................................................................. 88 Government & Politics....................................................... 88 Economic Developments................................................... 92 EL SALVADOR........................................................................ 93 Political Violence & Human Rights................................. 93 Elections............................................................................... 97 GUATEMALA........................................................................... 98 Controversial Elections..................................................... 98 Political Violence.................................................................. 100 Economic & Other Events.................................................. 102 Junta Overthrows Melgar................................................. 103 Pre-Coup Developments...................................................... 103 MEXICO........................................................................................ 105 Civil Unrest & Violence...................................................... 105 Crime & Corruption............................................................. 107 Oil............................................................................................ 109 Economy & Labor................................................................ 110 U.S. Relations........................................................................ Ill Other Developments............................................................. Ill NICARAGUA............................................................................ H3 Chamorro Murder Spurs Anti-Somoza Demonstrations................................................................ 115 Violence Increases............................................................. 116 Guerrillas Seize Congress, Win Prisoners’ Release..... 123 Mounting Disorder............................................................. 124 International Repercussions............................................. 127 Negotiations Halt, Violence Resumes........................... 129 Foreign Pressures Continue............................................. 132 PANAMA.................................................................................... 134 The Panama Canal Treaties.............................................. 134 Government & Politics...................................................... 145 Other Developments.......................................................... 147 PARAGUAY.............................................................................. 148 Politics & Human Rights.................................................. 148 Other Developments.......................................................... 150 PERU........................................................................................... 152 Elections Proceed But Military Retain Control............ 152 Economic Problems.......................................................... 154 Other Developments.......................................................... 159 URUGUAY................................................................................ 161 Government & Politics...................................................... 161 Human Rights Issue.......................................................... 162 Economic Developments................................. 162 VENEZUELA...................... 164 U.S. Relations..................................................................... 164 Economy...................................................... .'..................... 164 Presidential Campaign...................................................... 166 Other Events...................................................................... 168 OTHER AREAS........................................................................ 169 Bahamas............................................................................... 169 Barbados............................................................................. 169 Costa Rica............................................................................ 171 Dominica............................................................................. 173 Grenada................................................................................ 173 Guyana.................................................. 173 Haiti...................................................................................... 175 Jamaica................................................................................ 176 Puerto Rico.......................................................................... Surinam................................................................................ 179 Trinidad & Tobago.............................................................. 179 INDEX.......................................................................................... 181