Former Uruguayan dictator sentenced to 30 years

[Judi Lynn]

Former Uruguayan dictator sentenced to 30 years
By ALFONSO CASTIGLIA
The Associated Press
Wednesday, February 10, 2010; 8:44 PM

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay -- Former dictator Juan Maria Bordaberry was sentenced to 30 years in prison for violating the constitution when he led a 1973 coup that began 12 years of dictatorship in Uruguay, the prosecutor said Wednesday.

The 81-year-old Bordaberry is the second former Uruguayan dictator sentenced to a long prison term in the past four months, as the South American nation grapples with the 1973-85 dictatorship and its legacy of disappearances, torture and the exile of thousands of dissidents. In late October, ex-strongman Gregorio Alvarez was sentenced to 25 years.

Prosecutor Ana Maria Tellechea said Wednesday that she had spoken with judge Mariana Motta, who informed her Bordaberry received a 30-year sentence - the maximum allowed under Uruguayan law. Details of the ruling were to be released Thursday.

"Apparently the judge had the same interpretation that we had asked for in demanding a 30-year sentence for violating the constitution," Tellechea told The Associated Press.

Bordaberry also faces charges for 11 homicides and forced disappearances of dissidents.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/10/AR2010021003854.html

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk.nyud.net:8090/media/images/44760000/jpg/_44760176_bord.jpg http://www.nndb.com.nyud.net:8090/people/521/000123152/bordaberry-1.jpg http://www.antimafiadosmilargentina.com.nyud.net:8090/joomla3/images/stories/dictaduras/bordaberryjuanmaria02.jpg

[Wilms]

1. It's terrible that this has happened to the elderly Bordaberry.

It should have happened to him at a much younger age.

[Downwinder]

3. Perhaps Micheletti has a retirement home to look forward to.

I have always said that Jail would be better than a nursing home. In Jail, at least you have a chance of parole.

[rabs]

2. The AP article elevates Bordaberry to "dictator" status

when he was really not. Bordaberry was "elected" to the presidency but years later it was shown that he had won due to electoral fraud.

Bordaberry during his presidency was merely a puppet for the military that ruled behind the scene at the time.

When Bordaberry began to take his role as president seriously, out he went. The milicos booted him out.

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An anecdote: Bordaberry went on a state visit to Brazil when it too was under a military dictatorship.

The newspaper O Estado de Sao Paulo was under censorship at the time, with military censors in the newsroom. O Estado would publish poems and food recipes in the spaces that were censored.

For some reason, Bordaberry's state visit was censored. So O Estado ran a big headline on Page 1 that said:

PIE A LA BORDABERRY

and down the right hand column was a long recipe for a berry pie.

Brazilians knew exactly what was happening and incidents like this caused much merriment.

[Judi Lynn]

4. I didn't learn yet about Brazil's censoring news. They were deeply caught up in their suppression,

weren't they? Things are really screwed by the time censors are placed in the newsroom.

Good old Bordaberry pie. That's really a great move by O Estado.

[Peace Patriot]

5. What a great story! I want me some Bordaberry pie! nt