The arrival of the ship Cutter James of the United States Coast Guard (USCGfor its acronym in English) to Port of Montevideo generated controversy due to errors in the procedure that aroused strong criticism from the opposition of the Wide Front and even requests for ministers to resign for not complying with the Constitution of Uruguay.
The viewing of the Cutter James was scheduled for Friday the 26th, the framework of a series of missions that the ship carries out in the Atlantic Ocean and on the occasion of the USCG’s association with different host nations in the southern hemisphere, in a quest to counter the illicit maritime activity and promote the application of maritime laws in the region.
However, his arrival sparked controversy among the deputies of the Broad Front, since the entry of foreign soldiers into the country “needs parliamentary endorsement”, As pointed out by the legislator of the Popular Participation Movement (MPP), Carlos Rodríguez. The Cutter James robbery in the Port of Montevideo, meanwhile, was “without parliamentary authorization.”
The ministries involved recognized the error
Given the lack of corresponding authorization taking public status, the ministries of Defending and of External relationships recognized through statements that there was a “procedural error” at the entry of the USCG ship on Friday morning.
In that sense, and “given the material impossibility of being able to complete the corresponding parliamentary procedure, any military activity that said ship could carry out in coordination with the Armed forces, Therefore, its permanence will have a protocol function, as well as the normal refueling and replenishment,” said the Foreign Ministry.
The boat is scheduled to depart next Sunday at 10:30 in the morning.
Scandal and calls for resignation
Beyond the ministerial statements, the situation in terms of foreign security caused enormous controversy among the Broad Front deputies. In addition to Rodríguez, also the deputy Micaela Melgar He noted that the measure was “violating the Constitution” and maintained that his bench “analyzes what actions to take” at the parliamentary level.
“It does not have parliamentary endorsement that is required by the Constitution (Art. 85: Allow or prohibit foreign troops from entering the territory of the Republic),” said the legislator for the Communist Party of Uruguay (PCU), and maintained that “the ship has already entered other years. There is already knowledge of the law. Obviously it would not be an excuse but in this case it is aggravating.” “The political responsibility lies with the Ministry of Defense, which must send the application for entry,” she asserted, and maintained that the vessel “should leave.”
For his part, the also deputy Nicolas Viera He maintained that “in a serious country, the minister would have already resigned”, in reference to the head of Defense, Armando Castaingdebat. In that sense, he considered the fact as “an unacceptable violation of sovereignty.”
Alejandro “Pacha” Sánchezmeanwhile, referred to a “terrible act, so much so that the right-wing cares about the supposed issue of norms,” during an event at the Seregni’s footprint for the 35th anniversary of the death of Raúl “Bebe” Sendicleader and founder of Tupamaros National Liberation Movement.
“The worst of all is that the Constitution establishes that no military contingent can enter or leave the national territory without parliamentary approval. But the surrenderist government that we have, quite a sepoy, opened the doors of the Port of Montevideo to this ship without even go through Parliament to authorize entry,” said the main sponsor of the Yamandu Orsi; and added that “public officials”, mainly Castaingdebat and Paganini, should leave their positions for not having complied with the Constitution.
Source: Ambito
