Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Former Uruguayan Dictator Bordaberry is Sentenced


Former Uruguayan dictator Juan Maria Bordaberry was sentenced to 30 years in prison for violating the Uruguayan constitution by leading a coup in 1973. Bordaberry was democratically elected in 1971 and later led a coup that lasted 12 years, though he was ousted in 1976 by the military. The 81-year-old is the second former dictator from Uruguay to be sentenced to prison, the first being Gregorio Alvarez, who was sentenced to 25 years. Alvarez was convicted in connection with 37 homicides.

The 12 yr. dictatorship included torture, disappearances, exile of dissidents, repression, economic downturn, and accumulated the largest number of political prisoners per capita in the world. Bordaberry also faces charges for 11 homicides, though the elderly former dictator is being allowed to serve his sentence under house arrest because of medical reasons.

Online Sources: BBC, Associated Press
Image Source: BBC News

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