Uruguay will vote in two plebiscites on October 27, when it will also elect the next president of the Republic: the controversial one on social security and another of a lower profile that, in recent weeks, has begun to be put on the table of debate: that of enabling night raids.
As happened in 2019 with the plebiscite “Living without fear”driven by the deceased Jorge Larrañaga, Night raids will once again be put into popular consideration, this time individually, and in a context in which the insecurity is the main concern of Uruguayans. The measure, promoted in parliament by the senator of the National Party (PN) Carlos Camyproposes to reform the Article 11 of the Constitution so that the absolute prohibition on police entering homes at night is removed, incorporating authorization by court order.
Scope spoke with Camy to learn more about an initiative that has been in the public debate for a decade, and that could become a reality in October.
What is the significance of the proposal to allow nighttime raids and the measure itself?
– We present to the Parliament This initiative to reform the Constitution of the Republic and incorporate the authorization of night raids, with a judge’s order and the corresponding guarantees, understanding that it is one more tool that is needed to be more effective in the fight against crimeand particularly the drug trafficking and the racketeering. Uruguay It is one of the four countries in the world that allows daytime raids but not nighttime raids, which makes no sense today. It is a old standardwhich the country has had in place since 1830: distinguishing between day and night seemed reasonable almost 200 years ago, for example, in a large part of the country there was no electric light or it was unthinkable that a criminal organisation could put the State itself in jeopardy. Today it is a growing scourge and it is necessary for the law to accompany the evolution of society.
It is undeniable that drug trafficking and organised crime use this outdated regulation to achieve results overnight. That is why we thought it was important to promote this change, which Parliament supported with 55% of the votes and which will be submitted to the consideration of the Commission in October. popular will.
A recent survey by Opción indicates that 65% of the population would be in favour of voting to authorise night-time searches. How do you evaluate these polls less than three months before the elections?
– These are auspicious numbers that reiterate the same percentage of opinion samples that were communicated three months ago, which seems to support that there is a favorable opinion of the population directed to approve the reform. There are qualified voices for a decade now that have expressed themselves in favor. If we add to that that of the 203 countries in the world, only four (Uruguay, Guatemala, Mozambique and Cape Verde) They have this absolute prohibition, and from what I feel when we talk to citizens on the tours, they are going to lean in favor of approving it.
The proposal for night raids had already been put to a vote in 2019 and failed to achieve the necessary majority. Why is the measure being pushed again? What circumstances have changed in these five years to make it seem that, on this occasion, the “yes” vote will win?
– In the plebiscite promoted in 2019, four were considered measures to combat insecurity or promote better security. One of them was the authorization of night raids, but there were three more. Even back then, in the mentions of public opinion, there was a significant approval of the citizens for voting on the raids, but a smaller percentage was inclined towards the other measures, but it was not possible to vote individually. That is why now we are presenting only the raids. In addition, the growth of drug trafficking, and the link it has with the virulence of crime and the change of the criminal code, Little by little, it is becoming more clear. Citizens are becoming aware that it is another tool they have to combat crime.
Even though crime figures are on a downward trend, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior?
– Yes, because precisely the Uruguay requires having all the tools available to act with more efficiency. More scanners are needed to allow us to have the best possible control of the cargo in our ports; more night radars to allow us to have absolute coverage of our airspace; more State presence in vulnerable areas where drug trafficking is a breeding ground for its activities. And also night raids. This is not a measure that will provide the magic answers by itself, but rather it is about incorporating all the possible tools and instruments that allow us to continue improving the fight against insecurity.
You advocate comprehensive security policies, but the Frente Amplio criticizes the fact that night raids are treated as an individual measure. How do you explain this situation?
– It is explained by the reality that has been reflected in this government, because there has been a comprehensive policy, What is missing are some things to improve this comprehensive policy. Is what has been done enough? No, it was important to improve management but for the next government we are promoting new bases. So the action has to take place in comprehensive aspects as it is taking place. Nobody has said what the government says. Broad Front, that night raids, in and of themselves, yield better results. It is not possible to justify continuing to prohibit the country and to cut off the police from having a tool that works in the world and that is demanded, and to deny it with this argument that no one points out.
Another criticism from the opposition is that night raids increase the percentage of errors in procedures.
– That is not the case, it is not like that in the world. We have consulted the professionals in the field, the specialized prosecutors, and they all tell us that the police are prepared and that there are elements of technology that are being developed and allow the best guarantees for action. This rule is doubly guarantor: First, because what it indicates is that an express and reasoned order from a competent judge is required, issued in writing and, in turn, based on the form that will be established by the law that regulates it. We are talking about a rule that has all the necessary precautions, and for some reason it is applied practically everywhere in the world.
Why do you think the Frente Amplio is taking a stand against the plebiscite when even its leaders have expressed themselves in favor of nighttime raids on other occasions?
– That is surprising, one should ask them why they have changed their mind. It is also surprising because public opinion polls indicate that a very significant percentage of those who say they vote for the Frente Amplio are in favour of the raids. It is the contradiction of leaders who do not correspond to the thinking of the citizens but to political issues, of political calculation.
Source: Ambito
