Raúl Sendic

Raúl Sendic (born March 16, 1925 in Chamangá , Flores , † April 28, 1989 in Paris ) was a Uruguayan guerrilla leader and politician. He is a co-founder of the Tupamaros .

Uruguay ran into major economic problems from 1959 onwards, caused by the decline in demand for agricultural products. This led to mass unemployment , inflation and a decline in the previous standard of living. Social unrest broke out and an urban guerrilla movement was founded in Montevideo. These guerrillas, called Tupamaros, first attacked banks and distributed the stolen money and food to the poor. They later kidnapped politicians and attacked security forces. For example, the influential bank manager Pereyra Rebervel and the ambassador of Great Britain were kidnapped and FBI agent Dan Mitrione was murdered.

Sendic was arrested on August 7, 1970 and remained in prison until he escaped on September 6. Sendic did not flee abroad like many other opposition activists, but stayed in Uruguay and was arrested again in 1972.

In 1972 the Tupamaros were severely weakened by the military campaign, their leaders, especially Raúl Sendic, were imprisoned for the next twelve years under inhumane conditions, which included mistreatment and long periods of solitary confinement.

After democracy was restored in Uruguay in 1985, Raúl Sendic was released from prison along with other Tupamaros. The Tupamaros then formed the Movimiento de Participación Popular party , which is now part of the ruling Frente Amplio .

Sendic died of ALS on April 28, 1989 in Paris .

His eldest son, Raúl, was Vice President of Uruguay from 2015 to 2017.

Web links

• Biografía de Raúl Sendic (Spanish) on latinamericanstudies.org