Kidnapping in Uruguay

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32553, 12 March 1971, Page 9

Kidnapping in Uruguay

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) MONTEVIDEO, March 11.

The Tupamaros guerrillas who kidnapped the Uruguayan AttorneyGeneral (Mr Guido Berro Orbie) announced last night that they would hold him for longer than they had planned so as to question him fully, police said.

Mr Berro Oribe, aged 58, was kidnapped by fout Tupamaros yesterday as he left home to go to work. The kidnappers told his wife that he would be set free later in the day after they had discussed with him the type of trials captured Tupamaros would receive.

A communique found last 1 night said that Mr Berro Oribe “is being detained in a people’s gaol” and added that his health was good. It said that he was “being interrogated by a tribunal of the people over serious irregularities” in the conduct of Uruguayan justice, especially the possibility that alleged Tupamaros might be tried by military courts. The communique said that the Attorney - General, Uruguay’s chief prosecutor, “had proposed to the Supreme Court that Tupamaros be tried by military tribunals.” It said that it was impossible to get an impartial trial from military judges whose usual sentence was from eieht to 30 vears in prison. It indicated that Mr Berro Oribe might be held for several days to get the matter cleared up. Last Julv. the Tupamaros kidnanned Mr Daniel Pereira Manelli, the judge in charge at that time of the bulk of cases dealing with the Tupamaros. They told his family that thev wanted to “chat with him for a few hours,” but he was interrogated for seven days before he was eventuallv freed.

V esterdav’s kidnapping was (the second this year by the Tupamaros.

The British Ambassador (Mr Geoffrey Jackson), whom the guerrillas have said is safe and well in a people’s prison, was seized on January 8. The Government has continually refused to deal with the Tupamaros.