Pinochet Foes Allowed to Air TV Ads in Chile

SANTIAGO, Chile —  The political opposition in Chile is using television advertisements for the first time since a coup brought President Augusto Pinochet to power in 1973.

Both the opposition and forces supporting Pinochet in an Oct. 5 plebiscite on his presidency ran 15 minutes of free advertising on all television channels Monday night. The time was granted them by the military government.

The opposition advertisement featured light-hearted scenes of workers, families, artists and others at play and work, accompanied by lyrics saying: “Without the dictator, joy is going to come.”

The government’s 15 minutes began with scenes of food shortages under Socialist President Salvador Allende, Pinochet’s predecessor, and then showed various women, a key part of the electorate, urging a “yes” vote on giving Pinochet eight more years in office.