Uruguay: UN concerned over bill benefiting human rights violators

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Five United Nations (UN) rapporteurs expressed their “deep concern” over a bill presented by one of the parties that make up the ruling coalition in Uruguay to grant house arrest to prisoners over 65 years of age.

This measure would benefit a group of people prosecuted and convicted for human rights violations during last century’s military dictatorship (1973-1985).

“We would like to express our deep concern about the bill that regulates the automatic exchange of prison sentences for persons convicted of serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity,” reads the letter signed by the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition.

In addition, the letter bears the signatures of the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions; the Special Rapporteur on the right of all to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health; and the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Should the bill be passed, it would allow “the automatic granting of house arrest to persons convicted of crimes against humanity and other serious crimes committed during the dictatorship, which is contrary to international law,” states the letter addressed to Uruguayan Foreign Minister Francisco Bustillo.

The rapporteurs remind the Uruguayan State that “international law imposes limits on the use of measures such as amnesty, pardon and commutation of sentences for crimes against humanity.”

A “PROTECTION” MEASURE

The bill was presented by right-wing party Cabildo Abierto, part of the coalition supporting President Luis Lacalle Pou. The initiative aims at allowing prisoners over 65 years of age to serve their sentence in house arrest, with the monitoring by the Ministry of the Interior.

In the explanatory memorandum, Cabildo Abierto senators state that this initiative seeks “the protection of the health, physical and psychological integrity of elderly people, classified as being at greater risk by national and international organizations.”

There are some 100 people in Uruguayan prisons over 65 years of age. Most of them are imprisoned for violent crimes, such as homicides, femicides and sexual offenses. More than 20 of the people who would benefit from the initiative are imprisoned for torture and human rights violations committed during the last dictatorship (1973-1985).

More: Latin America news in English, every day from The Rio Times.