Uruguay Digs into Secret Massacre

Several former Uruguayan officers have been called to testify in the cause on the so-called second flight that transferred 20 political prisoners who later disappeared.

Former commanders of the Air force, Jose Pedro Malaguin (copilot in the clandestine flight) and Enrique Bonelli as well as Jose Araujo Umpierrez (coordinator of the transference) will testify either Thursday or Friday.

Malaguin was the head of the National Direction of Intelligence of the State during the two presidencies of Julio Maria Sanguinetti.

Also called to appear are the pilots, Daniel Munoz and Julio Bonelli, former director of the Joint Command Forces in 1971 and whose first chief was General Gregorio Conrado Alvarez Armeguina, alias El Goyo.

Judge Charles and prosecutor Mirtha Guianze are collecting information on the movement of people that occurred on October 5, 1975 between Argentina and Uruguay of which there were no survivors.

It is estimated that there are about twenty left wing militants who were moved and later assassinated.

Family members of four detained and disappeared testified as well as journalists Gabriel Pereyra, Alvaro Afonso and Roger Rodriguez.

During his testimony, the investigator and columnist did not reject the possibility that a pregnant 19-year-old was among the passengers in the clandestine trip.

This case was taken to court in Uruguay in 2000 but in 2004 President Jorge Battle decreed the Law of Expiration.