JUAN LECHIN HAILS BOLIVIAN GUERRILLA FRONT
Juan Lechin Oquendo, former vicepresident of Bolivia and a popular figure in the labor movement there, has hailed the appearance of a guerrilla front in his country although he denies having any connection with it.
_Lechin was arbitrarily arrested by Dictator René Barrientos in May 1965, put on a plane and sent to Asuncién. No trial was held. Interior Minister Oscar Quiroga simply announced that LIechin had been exiled because of "present social tension." He told the press that Lechin was connected with "a vast subversive plot of international character planned and financed for several months by internationally known Communist leaders."
No evidence whatsoever was offered to substantiate the charge. Quiroga merely asserted that Lechin was maintaining "a permanent link with Italian Conmunist leader Signor Iuigi Longo" in a scheme to turn Bolivia into "a new focal point for violence and extermination in the Southern Hemisphere." [See World Outlook, May 21, 1965.]
With the outbreak of guerrilla activities in the southeast part of Bolivia last March, it was wondered if Lechin had any connection with the development although in Bolivia he had distinguished himself for his incapacity to organize any effective resistance to the Barrientos dictatorship.
On May 7 lechin was arrested at Arica while en route from Argentina to Santiago de Chile. He was traveling on a false passport.
He at once asked for the right of political asylum. This was denied by the Frei government but Lechin was nevertheless granted the right to stay 45 days in Santiago.
In a press interview reported by Agence France-Presse May 16, lIechin said, "When I entered Chilean territory, my intention was to reach Bolivia, where I still want to return as soon as possible and by any means available."
In response to questions, Lechin denied rumors that he had met with "heads" of "international Communism" in Europe. He also denied having anything to do with the guerrilla front in Bolivia.
But on the latter topic, he added: "Personally, I admire these men who have taken the only road that now remains open to the Bolivian people to escape oppression.