Continuing Mystery of Disappeared Uruguayans

Radio Havana Cuba, 15 October 2004

Montevideo, October 15 (RHC)—The never ending mystery of the Uruguayans who disappeared during the 1973-1985 military dictatorship is once again re-emerging in the national political panorama, a few days before the October 31 general elections.

Representatives from several social groups, demanding investigations over kidnappings and disappearances during the dictatorship, recently sent a letter to presidential candidates calling for concrete government actions to clear up the truth about disappeared politicians and sanction the responsible.

Revealing the truth of one of the key periods in Uruguay's history is indispensable. Taking into consideration the open, serious omission of concrete information over this situation, searching remains, clandestine cemeteries and tombs must be a priority, the document added.

Nobody doubts any longer that Uruguay suffered a dictatorship that illegally arrested and tortured many innocent persons who later disappeared, a deputy from the leftist EP-FA (Progressive Meeting-Broad front) coalition stated.

In 2003, ex general Oscar Pereira published a book in which he recognized the crimes committed by the government at the time, revealing what for a majority was an open secret.