The recent meeting of the National Political Table of the Broad Front (FA)scheduled as the last session of the year 2024, has been marked by a controversy linked to the statements of its historical figures, Jose Mujica and Lucia Topolansky.
This year, which celebrated the return of the left to power after five years in opposition, thus becomes a critical moment in the party’s history, as a result of the indignation generated within it by comments about the country’s recent past.
The statements that caused a wave of reactions were revealed in the book “Los indomables”, by the journalist Pablo Cohen. In it, Topolansky maintains that he knew people who “lied” before the courts to convict several former soldiers for human rights violations during the dictatorship.
This statement, which was supported by Mujica in a radio interview shortly afterward, led to a rapid and forceful condemnation by various victims’ organizations and, in general, a distancing from the historical leaders by the FA bases.
Chain reactions after unfortunate statements
The Political Table of the FAfaced with growing internal pressure, decided to issue a statement critical of Mujica and Topolansky’s comments. According to one of those attending the meeting, there was “a general agreement that we had to leave quickly and forcefully.” However, it was decided to omit certain more severe elements that had initially been discussed for the final statement.
During the meeting, the fact that Topolansky’s comments had become relevant just at the time the statements were released was addressed. Although the book had been circulating since the beginning of the month, a lack of knowledge about its contents was evident among many of the participants. He Popular Participation Movement (MPP)relevant within the FA, was also forced to publicly distance itself from the statements of its historical leaders. An example of this is the comment of Alejandro Sánchezappointed Secretary of the Presidency, who expressed his disagreement by saying that “They are unhappy and I don’t share them.”
For its part, Blanca Rodriguezsenator elected by List 609, expressed her support for the principles of memory, truth and justice, spreading a photo with the image of a missing detainee. “Today and always I adhere to this declaration that defines us,” he declared, reaffirming the FA’s commitment to Uruguay’s historical past and the fight for human rights.
FA reinforces its commitment to justice
The context is of particular interest to Wide Frontgiven that the Programmatic Bases that guide the government of Yamandu Orsi They emphasize the need to advance justice and clarification related to the dictatorship’s crimes against humanity. “40 years after democratic recovery, the fate of the almost 200 missing persons is still unknown,” the document states.
Along the same lines, it is expected that the date of May 20, traditionally known as the Mark of Silenceis officially recognized as “Memory Day”, becoming a non-working day at the public and private level, in order to honor the memory of those who suffered during the dictatorial regime.
In the book “Los indomables,” Topolansky also addressed the particular characteristics of the dictatorships in Uruguay and Argentina, suggesting that the experience of the victims in both countries was notably different. He stated that while Argentina opted for a policy of forced disappearance, in Uruguay they sought, on the other hand, to strip the victims of their dignity through suffering and torture.
This differentiation extended to social aspects of the military of both countries, indicating a perception of “social classes” in the structure of the Uruguayan armed forces compared to the Argentine ones.
