Pereira's self-criticism on armored vehicles: 'We explained it so poorly that we had to re-explain it 30 times'

Fernando Pereira, president of Uruguay's Frente Amplio party, has defended the deployment of military armored vehicles for police patrols in Montevideo's high-crime neighborhoods. He asserted that the measure does not constitute a militarization of public security, emphasizing that he would have resigned from his position and protested if he believed otherwise.

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If we were militarizing the Police I would have resigned from the presidency of the Frente Amplio and would be protesting in the street because I am convinced that the military have specific training that is not given for internal public security. And in countries where they have been used, they have caused disasters.

Pereira admitted that the ruling coalition "explained the issue so poorly" that it required about 30 re-explanations. He expressed concern that the left-wing party might lose touch with its constituents and social base. "We clearly have to have dialogue with the markets and with businessmen, but we don't represent that, we represent organized workers, academics, intellectuals, students, and not all of them vote for us," he said.

He further clarified that if the police were being militarized, he would have resigned and protested, as he is convinced that the military's training is not suited for internal public security. "And in countries where they have been used, they have caused disasters," Pereira stated. He added that this does not preclude using an armored vehicle in necessary areas, even if operated by an armed soldier who would require specific training.

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We explained it so poorly that we have had to re-explain it about 30 times, but there were already tanks in the neighborhoods.

Pereira noted that armored vehicles, or "tanquetas," were already in use in some neighborhoods. He explained that some police vehicles had broken down and were under repair, leading the Ministry of Defense to lend its "idle" tanks. "In those neighborhoods, what they ask for is patrolling. They don't ask us to have the police do just anything or to put people from the Army in; they ask for patrolling, and patrolling in some areas of Montevideo requires these types of vehicles," he continued.

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In those neighborhoods, what they ask for is patrolling. They don't ask us to have the police do just anything or to put people from the Army in; they ask for patrolling and the patrolling in some areas of Montevideo requires these types of vehicle.