WEEKLY REVIEW

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
0005300862
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
U
Document Page Count: 
2
Document Creation Date: 
June 22, 2015
Document Release Date: 
October 20, 2008
Sequence Number: 
Case Number: 
F-2008-01555
Publication Date: 
September 10, 1971
File: 
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PDF icon DOC_0005300862.pdf81.21 KB
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APPROVED FOR RELEASED DATE: 30-Sep-2008 DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE WEEKLY ]E R V EW I Up Secret (b) (1) (b) (3) 10 September 1971 PoPy N 550 Uruguay: The Great Escape The Tupamaros' spectacular mass prison break on 6 September was a serious political setback for the Pacheco government. The administration's reac- tion has yet to suggest any new initiatives that might begin? to restore the public's now badly undermined confidence in the government. A total of 111 prisoners, including 106 Tupa- maros, tunneled their way to freedom in a charac- teristically adept terrorist operation. (stolen vehicles were used to transport t -e~esapees after the nine hour operation was completed. Almost all of the top leaders of the Tupamaros escaped; some had been in prison for several years. The government's inability to operate an effec- tive detention system has been obvious for some time. In March of 1970, 13 female Tupamaros were freed. The transfer of responsibility for the prisons from the lax Ministry of Culture to Interior has had little practical effect. A Tupamaro tunneling effort in January was washed out by rains;.a simple ruse sufficed to free a.Tupamaro leader in July, and later that month 37:female Tupamaros escaped. The' -latest breakout left security forces in a state of shock and dismay. I n contrast to the reac- tion to earlier spectacular operations by the terror- ists, few countermeasures were apparent after this jailbreak. Main roads were not controlled, road- blocks in the capital were not in evidence, and there was little indication of any intensive search efforts. The press has reported government arrests in the wake of the escape, but the administration has not claimed to have recaptured any of the escapees. The resignations of the ministers of interior and defense, and that of the director of prisons, have been of- fered and at least the latter seems likely to be accepted. The government's public response has been pro forma. Official communiques have re-empha- sized the Pacheco administration's determination to hold the general elections scheduled for 28 Novem- ber, and reiterated its commitment to maintain internal security. The measures set forth include a more active role for the armed forces, the banning of all but government approved political demonstra- tions, and a warning to all citizens to carry identifi- cation at all times. Most of these controls, however, were being implemented prior to the escape. 'The latest government bungle comes just after President Pacheco had announced his intention to run for re-election via a constitutional amendment permitting a second term. This episode all but destroys his prospects for a successful bid Page 20 WEEKLY REVIEW 10 Sep 71 (b)