Uruguay: An investigation of Captain (now Major) Guarino by a certain judge; whether this judge was the subject of death threats or assassination attempts as a result of the investigation (1997-February 2003)

No information about an investigation of Captain, now Major Guarino by the judge named in the Information Request could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, the following provides information about a Major Raul Guarino in Montevideo.

According to a March 2002 article in El Pais, Major Raul Guarino was named President of the Uruguayan Federation of Equestrian Sports (Federacion Uruguaya de Deportes Ecuestres) (21 Mar. 2002). The inaugural ceremony took place at the Regiment of the Mounted Guard (Guardia de Coraceros, GC) with the participation of the Minister and Deputy Secretary of Sport and Youth, as well as the Deputy Secretary of the Interior Ministry (El Pais 21 Mar. 2002).

In an article of 27 July 2002, El Pais reported the launch of a mounted police (coraceros) patrol in the Carrasco neighbourhood of Montevideo that would be led by a female police lieutenant. Inspector Major (Inspector Mayor) Raul Guarino stated that the mounted police would serve "mainly in the prevention of criminal acts" (principalmente la prevencion del hecho delictivo) (El Pais 27 July 2002).

A number of articles from October 2002 reported the removal of students occupying the Cerro and Miranda secondary schools in Montevideo by the Mounted Guard (Guardia de Coraceros, GC) led by Major Raul Guarino (Radio El Espectador 1 Oct. 2002; El Pais 1 Oct. 2002; Brecha 5 Oct. 2002). Consequently, the students claimed that the GC used excessive force in removing them from the school, a claim denied by the GC (Radio El Espectador 1 Oct. 2002; El Pais 1 Oct. 2002). Moreover, in an interview with Radio El Espectador, Major Raul Guarino stated "there was absolutely no violence" (no hubo violencia en absoluto) used in the expulsion of the students (1 Oct. 2002). Brecha reported that although medical reports demonstrate that the students did not suffer serious wounds, it was clear that "repression existed" (represion existio) (5 Oct. 2002). Further investigations into the incidents were being carried out by the Council of Secondary Education (Consejo de Educacion Secundaria) and the Police Headquarters of Montevideo (Jefatura de Policia de Montevideo) (Brecha 5 Oct. 2002).

No further information about these incidents could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Brecha [Montevideo]. 5 October 2002. Mariana Contreras and Martin Klein. "Violento fin al conflicto estudiantil." [Accessed 26 Feb. 2003]

El Pais [Montevideo]. 1 October 2002. "Solo once de los ocupantes del Miranda estudiaban en ese liceo." [Accessed 26 Feb. 2003]

____. 27 July 2002. "Mujer alferez al mando de la escuadra de Coraceros." [Accessed 26 Feb. 2003]

____. 21 March 2002. "Deportes ecuestres: Quiere ordenar, unificar y 'hacer crecer' la actividad local." [Accessed 26 Feb. 2003]

Radio El Espectador [Montevideo]. 1 October 2002. "'No hubo violencia.'" [Accessed 20 Feb. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

IRB databases

World News Connection (WNC)

Internet sites:

Amnesty International

Canal 10 [Montevideo]

Centro de Medios Independientes (CMI) Uruguay

Colegio de Abogados del Uruguay

Country Reports

Human Rights Watch

Uruguay, Comisarias Seccionales y Moviles

Uruguay en la Coyuntura [Montevideo]

Uruguay, Ministro del Interior

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