A Step Back

Uruguay, which very often in the past has been at the forefront of economic, political and social developments, has taken an enormous step back, by failing to repeal the law which grants an ill-conceived immunity to the main culprits of the dictatorship from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. That statute and others that are similar around the world have no validity, and are an affront to the victims, their families and the country as a whole. As much as healing and reconciliation are worthy objectives that should be pursued actively, accountability cannot be disregarded. Lost lives and other irreparable harm done to countless people must not be allowed to simply fade away, as if it all amounted to nothing.

It's a shame that, for now, Uruguay has done such a disservice to its democracy and human rights record. Let's  hope that it will correct this mistake sometime soon.

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