Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MONTEVIDEO422
2008-07-24 22:22:00
SECRET
Embassy Montevideo
Cable title:  

PRESS ALLEGES "CIA" TIES WITH URUGUAYAN-AMERICAN

Tags:  PREL CASC AR UY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMN #0422 2062222
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 242222Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8353
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T MONTEVIDEO 000422 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2028
TAGS: PREL CASC AR UY
SUBJECT: PRESS ALLEGES "CIA" TIES WITH URUGUAYAN-AMERICAN
DETAINED IN ARGENTINA; BARDESIO PURPORTEDLY INVOLVED IN
DICTATORSHIP-ERA DEATH SQUADS

Classified By: Charge Robin Matthewman: Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

S E C R E T MONTEVIDEO 000422

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2028
TAGS: PREL CASC AR UY
SUBJECT: PRESS ALLEGES "CIA" TIES WITH URUGUAYAN-AMERICAN
DETAINED IN ARGENTINA; BARDESIO PURPORTEDLY INVOLVED IN
DICTATORSHIP-ERA DEATH SQUADS

Classified By: Charge Robin Matthewman: Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (SBU) On July 24, the leftist weekly Brecha published an
investigative article asserting that former Uruguayan police
photographer, Nelson Bardesio Marzoa, was now living in
Argentina and had entered the country in June 2006 with a
U.S. passport. The article asserts that Bardesio was
abducted in March 1972 by the Tupamaros. During his
interrogation, he purportedly confessed to details about
paramilitary groups who acted as death squads reporting to
the Ministries of Interior and Defense. He was released to
the Ministry of Defense in May 1972. The article asserts he
probably left Uruguay in November 1972, possibly assisted by
CIA agents stationed in Montevideo. He might have gone to
Canada or Mexico. In 1976, he reportedly married in Texas
(Bexar county). Finally, the article claims that Uruguayan
Authorities requested information on Bardesio through
Interpol, and requested that the Argentine authorities detain
him, as a first step toward possible extradition.


2. (S) The Brecha article has been picked up by various
Uruguayan web portals, including Montevideo Portal and El
Pais Digital. Local evening news covered the story
extensively on July 24 after Bardesio was detained in
Argentina. Montevideo and Buenos Aires are in close contact.
We have confirmed that Bardesio is a naturalized U.S.
citizen. Montevideo RAO also confirmed with contacts in
Washington that Bardesio did have some type of relationship
with RAO between 1967 and 1971. We have requested more
information on the details of the connection, and any
assistance that the USG may have provided for resettlement
outside of Uruguay.


3. (S) Late in the day on July 24, Embassy Buenos Aires
learned that law enforcement officers identifying themselves
as INTERPOL took into custody dual U.S.-Uruguayan citizen
Nelson Bardesio Marzoa, DPOB 07JUL1940 Montevideo. ACS
Buenos Aires plans to visit Bardesio on July 25. He came to
the attention of ACS Buenos Aires a day prior on July 23,
when he called the consular section to advise that Uruguayan
reporters were outside his door. Conoff provided him the
lawyer list and advised him to contact them if he had any
further problems.


4. (S) In talking to Buenos Aires conoff, Bardesio confirmed
some of the details that were in the Brecha article the next
day. He said he had collaborated with US Embassy Montevideo
about 30 years ago, passing messages from the Uruguayan
government to officials at the Embassy (CIA). He was working
for the Uruguayan police at the time. Bardesio also mention
his kidnapping by "Tupamaros" for 90 days. Once released by
the group, he claimed the USG aided him in entering the US
where he remained for the next 24 years and obtained
citizenship. He explained he had moved to Argentina about 4
1/2 years ago where he had had no trouble up until now. His
attorney, Aldo Spicacci (one of the lawyers on Embassy BsAs'
lawyer list),confirmed that Bardesio was taken into
Argentine police custody on July 24.


5. (S) COMMENT: Embassy Buenos Aires will attempt to visit
Bardesio July 25. Embassies Montevideo and Buenos Aires have
collaborated on draft press guidance, which we will get
cleared on July 25. We will work closely with Washington
agencies to obtain the remaining facts of the case, and
discuss appropriate outreach to the Uruguayan authorities.
There is a strong likelihood this case will be politically
explosive in Uruguay. The story will confirm some
Uruguayans, suspicions that the USG was involved actively in
the military dictatorship's repressive tactics.

Matthewman