Editor’s Note: Matador member and regular contributor Dominic DeGrazier currently calls Uruguay home. He recently sent in this dispatch to let us know about a campaign urging Uruguayans not to forget their recent past.
Photo: Dominic DeGrazier
The people of Uruguay tend to be extremely tranquilo – they drink mate and aren’t generally worried about the exact time of day. At the same time, Uruguayos tend to be politically active, especially this year, as they will vote in November for their new president and on various bills.
One of these bills calls for annulling the law called “La Ley de Caducidad (The Law of Expiration).” This is a law passed in 1986 after the 12-year military dictatorship ended (1973-1985). It gives impunity to the dictatorship’s military officials for their human rights violations, among other crimes. No, you did not read this incorrectly.
Due to pressures from the old regime and in order to return to “normalcy,” the new Uruguayan government formed in December 1986 thought it was simply better to squash the horrors of the dictatorship. It was decided that the crimes committed within the previous 13 years were no longer punishable; in effect, the time had expired to take action against the guilty officials.
By April 25, 2009, in order to place the nullification of this law on the ballots of November, 10% of the voting population (251,847) needs to sign for the reform.
As of April 4th, 245,785 signatures had been received.
Photo: Dominic DeGrazier
Occurring barely one generation ago, the Uruguayan dictatorship is still an extremely fresh wound. Its military officers responsible for torturing, kidnapping, murdering, or terrorizing innocent people for 12 years are still walking around free within the country and abroad.
Photo: Dominic DeGrazier
Uruguayans are trying to achieve an important step to make sure justice is finally served. Vamos arriba, Uruguay!
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9 Comments... join the discussion!
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I loved Uruguay i spent some time in monteverde. however, we accidentally fell into a gem. we had some time to kill and took a road trip to Colonia. we were almost in tears that we didn’t plan long enough to be there. what an amazing place!!!!!!!
what struck me odd though, in Montevideo was how empty it was. apparently when i visited it, a lot of the youth went to study in other countries and stayed there. it was depressing, actually.
The Travel Expert(a) and an Expat with a Twist↵ -
Buster: thanks for the comment.
Marina: Montevideo is not the typical capital city – I definitely agree with you there!!
Dominic
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Glad to see this article. I’ll be in Uruguay in a couple of weeks, and will be sure to keep an eye on this law. I live in Chile, where impunity passes for justice sometimes, too. Fascinating world we live in. Thanks for the article!
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It seems as tranquil as the people may be, some may take justice into their own hands if a law like that was passed. Doesn’t really sound plausible.
Keep us updated.
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che, si no sabes como son las cosas no opines.
me parece q hay que respetar los diferentes paises y su culutra.
q vengas de afuera, y t pongas a opinar de las cosas no va.admas hablas de q hay q hacer justicia encontra de los militares..y los tupamaros?
los tupamaros fueron ladrones, aesisonos a mano fria, y ahora estan libres y tranquilitos, uno capaz q llega a ser presidente.los militres vinieron para poner orden, los tupamaros fuern los “revolucionarios” q querian q uruguay fuese como cuba, q desastre.
y en un uruguay todo el mundo tiene una postura politica si, y la gente esta metida masomenos en plolitica, pero el problema? el problema es q nadie sabe nada y hablan x hablar (esto si es tipico de uruguayo), eso muestra q pepe mujica puede llegar a ser presidente.
media pila d,
un abrazo↵ -
Gonzalo, tenés razón los uruguayos hablan x hablar y vos sos uno de esos.
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Gonzalo, que desastre si, leer lo que escribis!! gente como vos y todos esos otros tendrian que ser encadenados y tirados al fondo del mar, los militares hicieron con gente inocente!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Gonzalo, hacete ver porque no tenes idea de lo que hablas, como los mismos uruguayos que criticas, y de ultima entre elegir un ladron como Lacalle o un vendido como Bordaberry prefiero un Pepe Mujica sincero y con una vision de pueblo que ni siquiera VOS (que sos parte del pueblo) tenes.
Realmente antes de ponerte a opinar en foros etc, llamate al silencio y medita bien a ver si realmente sabes tanto como le criticas a los demas porque decis mucha bobada.
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