Raúl Sendic
Encyclopedia
Raúl Sendic Antonaccio (March 16, 1926 - April 28, 1989) was a prominent Uruguay
an Marxist
and founder of the Tupamaros
.
Born in a rural area, near the village of Juan Jose Castro, in the Flores Department
, Sendic worked with his father as a peasant on a crab apple farm until he finished high school and left his home to study in Montevideo
. In 1952, he obtained the title of attorney, given before the law degree (he actually completed 5 and a half years of the 6 years required for the law degree). During his time in Montevideo, he joined the socialist youth movement of the Socialist Party of Uruguay
, becoming a prominent member. His social activity became intensified during the 50s, as he became trade union attorney of rural workers and, later, union founder. UTAA (sugar cane workers), SUDA (sugar beet workers) and the project for an all-inclusive association of rural workers, SUDOR, were born as a result of his actions. Sendic both saw and experienced the abuse by agricultural employers in areas where there seemed to be no awareness of democracy.
In the late 50s Sendic started a campaign for creating social awareness of the cane workers situation, in Montevideo (cane plantations are still now located in Artigas
, on the frontier with Brazil
, 600 km from the capital city). Four hundred workers marched to Montevideo with the motto: "Por la tierra y con Sendic" (For the land and with Sendic). The marchers were repeatedly repressed.
Hence, Sendic began to think that the only option for the country was an armed struggle that should complement the workers' requests. 1963 was perhaps a decisive year, when the surreptitious robbery of an arms shop in Colonia
, carried out by an organised movement marks the start of the Tupamaros and states the will of creating a guerrilla movement.
However, the MLN-T began to be recognised because of its activities only in 1967, when government repression, during the presidency of Jorge Pacheco Areco
, caused the mobilization and response of a variety of groups, principally the Tupamaros.
MLN-T began by staging the robbing of banks, gun clubs and other businesses in the early 1960s, then distributing stolen food and money among the poor in Montevideo
. By the late 1960s, it was engaged in political kidnapping
s, "armed propaganda
" and assassination
s. Of particular note are the kidnapping of powerful bank manager Pereyra Rebervel and of the United Kingdom
ambassador to Uruguay, Geoffrey Jackson, as well as the assassination of Dan Mitrione
, the FBI agent alleged to have taught techniques of torture to police forces in various Latin America
n countries.
The peak of the Tupamaros was in 1970 and 1971. During this period they made liberal use of their Cárcel del Pueblo (or "People's Prison") where they held those that they kidnapped. In 1971 over 100 imprisoned Tupamaros escaped the Punta Carretas
prison. Nonetheless, the movement was hampered by a series of events including serious strategic gaffes and the betrayal of high-ranking Tupamaro Héctor Amodio Pérez, and the army's counteroffensive, which included the Escuadrón de la Muerte ("Death Squad"), police officers who were granted liberal repressive powers to deal with Tupamaros.
Sendic was arrested in Uruguay on August 7, 1970, and remained in prison until his escape September 6, 1971. Sendic remained in Uruguay as a fugitive until his eventual capture one year later.
The Uruguayan military
unleashed a bloody campaign of mass arrests and selective disappearances, dispersing those guerrillas who were not killed or arrested. The torture
tactics were incredibly effective, and by 1972, the MLN-T had been severely weakened. Its principal leaders were imprisoned under terrible conditions for the next 12 years.
Despite the diminished threat, the civilian government of Juan María Bordaberry
ceded governmental authority to the military in 1973 in a bloodless coup d'état
that led to further repression against the population and the suppression of all political parties.
Raúl Sendic and 8 of the MLN-T leaders were confined to different improvised prisons in aberrant and humiliating conditions for 12 years. They suffered continuous physical and psychological torture. In 1981, UN Human Rights Committee has recognized that Uruguay violated articles 7, 9, 10 and 14 of ICCPR in respect of Sendic during his trial and imprisonment.
After the military dictatorship went down in 1985, Sendic was released from the prison and the Tupamaros returned to public life as a part of a political party, the Movement of Popular Participation
. Today the party comprises the largest single group within the ruling left-wing Frente Amplio
coalition.
Sendic died in Paris
in 1989 of ALS
. In Montevideo
, a crowd attended his funeral, where his remains rest today.
His son, Raúl Fernando Sendic Rodríguez
, is a former Industry Minister of Uruguay
.
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an Marxist
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
and founder of the Tupamaros
Tupamaros
Tupamaros, also known as the MLN-T , was an urban guerrilla organization in Uruguay in the 1960s and 1970s. The MLN-T is inextricably linked to its most important leader, Raúl Sendic, and his brand of social politics...
.
Born in a rural area, near the village of Juan Jose Castro, in the Flores Department
Flores Department
-History and cultural heritage:The department, created by President Máximo Santos, is named after the former Colorado Party leader, Venancio Flores, who was born in Trinidad in the nineteenth century.The department has many sites of prehistoric rock art...
, Sendic worked with his father as a peasant on a crab apple farm until he finished high school and left his home to study in Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
. In 1952, he obtained the title of attorney, given before the law degree (he actually completed 5 and a half years of the 6 years required for the law degree). During his time in Montevideo, he joined the socialist youth movement of the Socialist Party of Uruguay
Socialist Party of Uruguay
The Socialist Party of Uruguay is an Uruguayan political party founded in 1910. Its main leader and spokesman was Dr Emilio Frugoni, the most prominent advocate of socialist ideas in Uruguay....
, becoming a prominent member. His social activity became intensified during the 50s, as he became trade union attorney of rural workers and, later, union founder. UTAA (sugar cane workers), SUDA (sugar beet workers) and the project for an all-inclusive association of rural workers, SUDOR, were born as a result of his actions. Sendic both saw and experienced the abuse by agricultural employers in areas where there seemed to be no awareness of democracy.
In the late 50s Sendic started a campaign for creating social awareness of the cane workers situation, in Montevideo (cane plantations are still now located in Artigas
Artigas
Artigas may refer to:* José Gervasio Artigas, a central figure in Uruguay's struggles for independence from Spain and Buenos Aires* Artigas, a town in Uruguay* Artigas Department, a region of Uruguay* A number of ships of the National Navy of Uruguay...
, on the frontier with Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, 600 km from the capital city). Four hundred workers marched to Montevideo with the motto: "Por la tierra y con Sendic" (For the land and with Sendic). The marchers were repeatedly repressed.
Hence, Sendic began to think that the only option for the country was an armed struggle that should complement the workers' requests. 1963 was perhaps a decisive year, when the surreptitious robbery of an arms shop in Colonia
Colonia Department
Colonia is a departamento in southwestern Uruguay. Its capital is Colonia del Sacramento, the country's second oldest city.-Economy:The region is the main producer of dairy products in Uruguay...
, carried out by an organised movement marks the start of the Tupamaros and states the will of creating a guerrilla movement.
However, the MLN-T began to be recognised because of its activities only in 1967, when government repression, during the presidency of Jorge Pacheco Areco
Jorge Pacheco Areco
Jorge Pacheco Areco was a Uruguayan politician and member of the Colorado Party. He served as President of Uruguay from December 6, 1967 to March 1, 1972.-Vice President of Uruguay:...
, caused the mobilization and response of a variety of groups, principally the Tupamaros.
MLN-T began by staging the robbing of banks, gun clubs and other businesses in the early 1960s, then distributing stolen food and money among the poor in Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
. By the late 1960s, it was engaged in political kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
s, "armed propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
" and assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
s. Of particular note are the kidnapping of powerful bank manager Pereyra Rebervel and of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
ambassador to Uruguay, Geoffrey Jackson, as well as the assassination of Dan Mitrione
Dan Mitrione
Daniel A. Mitrione was an Italian-born American police officer, Federal Bureau of Investigation agent and a United States government advisor for the Central Intelligence Agency in Latin America.- Career :...
, the FBI agent alleged to have taught techniques of torture to police forces in various Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
n countries.
The peak of the Tupamaros was in 1970 and 1971. During this period they made liberal use of their Cárcel del Pueblo (or "People's Prison") where they held those that they kidnapped. In 1971 over 100 imprisoned Tupamaros escaped the Punta Carretas
Punta Carretas
Punta Carretas is a barrio of Montevideo, Uruguay. It shares borders with Parque Rodó and Pocitos to the north, while from east south and west, it is delimited by the coastline...
prison. Nonetheless, the movement was hampered by a series of events including serious strategic gaffes and the betrayal of high-ranking Tupamaro Héctor Amodio Pérez, and the army's counteroffensive, which included the Escuadrón de la Muerte ("Death Squad"), police officers who were granted liberal repressive powers to deal with Tupamaros.
Sendic was arrested in Uruguay on August 7, 1970, and remained in prison until his escape September 6, 1971. Sendic remained in Uruguay as a fugitive until his eventual capture one year later.
The Uruguayan military
Military of Uruguay
The Armed Forces of Uruguay consist of an army, navy, and air force. These three branches are constitutionally subordinate to the president through the Minister of Defense...
unleashed a bloody campaign of mass arrests and selective disappearances, dispersing those guerrillas who were not killed or arrested. The torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
tactics were incredibly effective, and by 1972, the MLN-T had been severely weakened. Its principal leaders were imprisoned under terrible conditions for the next 12 years.
Despite the diminished threat, the civilian government of Juan María Bordaberry
Juan María Bordaberry
Juan María Bordaberry Arocena was a Uruguayan politician and cattle rancher, who first served as President from 1972 until 1976, including as a dictator from 1973 until his ouster in a 1976 coup...
ceded governmental authority to the military in 1973 in a bloodless coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
that led to further repression against the population and the suppression of all political parties.
Raúl Sendic and 8 of the MLN-T leaders were confined to different improvised prisons in aberrant and humiliating conditions for 12 years. They suffered continuous physical and psychological torture. In 1981, UN Human Rights Committee has recognized that Uruguay violated articles 7, 9, 10 and 14 of ICCPR in respect of Sendic during his trial and imprisonment.
After the military dictatorship went down in 1985, Sendic was released from the prison and the Tupamaros returned to public life as a part of a political party, the Movement of Popular Participation
Movement of Popular Participation
The Movement of Popular Participation is a Uruguayan political party. It is a member organisation of the ruling left-wing party Broad Front.- Background :...
. Today the party comprises the largest single group within the ruling left-wing Frente Amplio
Broad Front (Uruguay)
The Broad Front is a Uruguayan left-wing coalition of political parties. It is led by Jorge Brovetto. Frente Amplio has close ties with PIT-CNT trade union and the cooperative housing movement.-History:...
coalition.
Sendic died in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1989 of ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
. In Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
, a crowd attended his funeral, where his remains rest today.
His son, Raúl Fernando Sendic Rodríguez
Raúl Fernando Sendic Rodríguez
Raúl Fernando Sendic Rodríguez is an Uruguayan politician.Son of the late Raúl Sendic, Uruguayan Tupamaro leader, he studied in Cuba and later worked as a journalist.-Industry Minister:...
, is a former Industry Minister of Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
.