it's poorly written, but because it says "they declined to answer" it's likely that the author means "the general of the Air Force and the new commander-in-chie

it's poorly written, but because it says "they declined to answer" it's likely that the author means "the general of the Air Force and the new commander-in-chief General Pinochet" to be a list of two people. (but still, your english is better than my shameful spanish, and i have lived in chile for many years...)