MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Military pockets and secrets to be exposed.

A group of Chilean Deputies from different political parties have requested President Ricardo Lagos to sponsor a bill repealing the highly secretive Reserved Copper Bill which deals with military financing and procurement.

"We're not against the Armed Forces or their modernization, on the contrary, but the country must know how resources are invested, and it's time to end with secrets. It's imperative to declassify secret legislation from Pinochet's time", said Deputy Juan Burgos, who helped draft the reform bill.

"Given the degree of democratic governance in Chile and the necessity of greater transparency we need new public accountancy norms since this involves 220 million US dollars, which remain protected by strict secrecy laws", added Mr. Burgos.

"If needed Congress rules contemplate secret sessions where military budget and procurement can be addressed".

The secret bill 13.196 known in Chile as the Reserved Copper Bill was modified in 1976 establishing that 10% of all overseas sales of Codelco (the government's copper mines and refineries Corporation) must be deposited in the Chilean Central Bank with the purpose of financing the purchase of military equipment.

Payments must be done in three equal deposits with a minimum equivalent to 75 million US dollars for each service.

Given the booming price of copper this year, (Chile's main export), the Armed Forces are expecting to receive an additional 250 million US dollars.