Will Uruguayan Ex-general’s Immunity Be Lifted for Covering up Murders?

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The immunity of Guido Manini Ríos, former Chief of the Armed Forces and dishonorably discharged by Uruguay‘s then President Tabaré Vázquez, who is to take office as Senator on March 1st, is to be lifted.

The reason: During his tenure, the retired general had concealed from justice and the government for over a year the confession of two murders by former Lieutenant Colonel José Nino Gavazzo. Following his suspension, he founded a party and became a senator.

The Crysol Association of Former Political Prisoners is now demanding that the new Senate lift Manini Ríos’ immunity. He is to be brought before the competent court, where his case is currently being processed at a moderate pace.

“The Senate must commit itself to the rule of law and vote to have Guido Manini Ríos’ parliamentary immunity lifted,” said the Crysol. And it continued: “This is in line with its responsibility towards democratic legality. It must fend off state terrorism.”

The Association maintains that individuals who have violated laws cannot serve as senators. All the more so if they have helped cover up crimes against humanity. “In a democracy, we are all equal before the law. Justice must act. Criminals must be tried and convicted. The Senate must uphold Republican institutions!” demands the Crysol.

The former political prisoners recall that Manini Ríos, as head of the armed forces, knew that José Nino Gavazzo had not been brought to justice for the murder and disappearance of Roberto Gomensoro Josman and that the case had been dropped. He was aware that this was a crime that had gone unpunished. The same applies to the murder of Eduardo Pérez. Both were members of leftist organizations during the Uruguayan dictatorship (1973-1985).

The former general withheld the confessions of José Nino Gavazzo and Jorge Silveira (another military officer convicted of torture and murder) from a Military Court. This was a deliberate act of complicity with those responsible for two crimes.

José Nino Gavazzo was sentenced by the Italian judiciary to life imprisonment together with 13 other military officers for human rights crimes committed during the dictatorship. He is regarded as the supreme commander of the Condor Plan in the military intelligence service. For health reasons, Gavazzo now lives under house arrest in a luxury villa in a seaside resort in Uruguay.

The Crysol organization also denounces the “Military Center” association, which applauded Manini Rio’s conduct. It criticizes the fact that the military corps community expressed its appreciation for his active complicity with the greatest criminals of the Uruguayan state.