23
56.
As of 1976, and after the military coup in Argentina, the number of
disappearances and extrajudicial executions of exiles and refugees in said country
soared.48 In some cases under a false set-up, the refugees were identified as terrorist
invaders, 49 and thus, for example, between July and October of that year, joint
operations were undertaken of Argentine and Uruguayan military bodies that
involved the kidnapping of more than 60 Uruguayans in Buenos Aires. 50
57.
The Uruguayan Air Force stated, pursuant to the “Report of the Investigative
Commission on the fate of 33 detained citizens in the period from June 27, 1973, to
March 1, 1985,” 51 which was presented in August 2005 by the Commander and
Chief of the Army per the request of President Tabaré Vázquez, that the flights of the
persons detained in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and transported to Montevideo,
Uruguay, were ordered by the General Commander of the Air Force at the request of
the Defense Information Services (SID) and coordinated by said service. 52
58.
Some Uruguayan survivors—after being transported to Montevideo—were
taken to a clandestine prison (called “a safe house”) where they underwent daily
torture. After the course of various months, they were transported to another
clandestine prison. The kidnappers used various techniques and codes to avoid being
easily recognized by the detainees, and given the autonomy granted to them, they
were able to carry out other criminal activities such as extortion and looting that, in
principle, were not tied to the combat objectives against subversive activities. 53
48
Cf. J.P. McSherry, Los Estados Depredadores: la Operation Condor and la Guerra Encubierta en
América Latina [Predatory States: Operation Condor and Covert War in Latin America], supra, note 33,
pages. 151, 152 and 155, folios 2898, 2899, and 2900; U.S Department of State, “UNHCR discusses
Chilean, Uruguayan refugee matter,” December 26, 1984, Collection: State Argentina Declassification
Project
(1975-1984),
pages.
3
and
4,
para.
6.
Available
at:
http://foia.state.gov/documents/Argentina/0000A8AD.pdf, Last visited on February 23, 2011.
49
Cf. John Dinges, Operation Condor. Una década de terrorismo internacional en el Cono Sur [A
Decade of International Terrorism in the Southern Cone],pages. 148 and 193, supra note 36, folios 2681
and 2703; J.P. McSherry, Los Estados Depredadores: la Operation Condor and la Guerra Encubierta en
América Latina [Predatory States: Operation Condor and Covert War in Latin America], supra, note 33,
page 174, folio 2910.
50
A confidential telegram on November 2, 1976, of the United States Ambassador in Argentina,
Robert Hill, reveals that Uruguayan and Argentine forces acted together to detain Uruguayan refugees in
Argentina: “[...] the kidnappings of Uruguayan refugees in July and September were carried out by
Argentine and Uruguayan security forces, acting clandestinely and in cooperation.” Cf. U.S Department of
State “Subject: GOA Silent on Uruguay Revelation of Terrorist Plot”, Para. 3. Available at:
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB73/761102dos.pdf, Last visited on February 23, 2011;
U.S Department of State, “UNHCR discusses Chilean, Uruguayan refugee matter,” December 26, 1984,
supra note 48; J.P. McSherry, Los Estados Depredadores: la Operation Condor and la Guerra Encubierta
en América Latina [Predatory States: Operation Condor and Covert War in Latin America], supra note 33,
p.155, folio 2900.
51
Cf. Historical Investigation on Detainees and Disappeared Persons in compliance with Article 4 of
Law 15.488 of 2007, supra note 23, Tome IV, Report of the Uruguayan Air Force, August 8, 2005, pages.
93; Judgment 036 of March 26, 2009, supra note 39, folios 1244; Criminal Court of First Instance on
Criminal Matters of 19° round of Montevideo, Judgment 037 of March 26, 2009, supra note 39, folio 1102.
52
Cf. Historical Investigation on Detainees and Disappeared Persons in compliance with Article 4 of
Law 15.488 of 2007, supra note 23, Tome IV, Report of the Uruguayan Air Force, August 8, 2005, pages.
93; Judgment 036 of March 26, 2009, supra note 39, folios 1244; Criminal Court of First Instance on
Criminal Matters of 19° round of Montevideo, Judgment 037 of March 26, 2009, supra note 39, folio 1102.
53
Cf. Historical Investigation on Detainees and Disappeared Persons in compliance with Article 4 of
Law 15.488 of 2007, supra note 23, Tome I, page 293; Testimony of Roger Rodríguez, rendered before a
notary public on September 23, 2010, evidence, folio 5111; C. Demasi, A. Marchesi, V. Markarian, A. Rico
and J. Yaffé, supra, Civic Military Dictatorship, Uruguay 1973-1985, supra note 30, page 284, folio 2549.
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