MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Striking policemen replaced by soldiers & sailors in Uruguay

Major stand-off between Uruguayan cops and goverment

Soldiers and sailors have been temporarily contracted by Uruguayan county authorities to help with basic law and order because of a Police strike.

The county of Rio Negro, 300 kilometers east of Montevideo contracted for police patrolling duties 24 soldiers from a local Uruguayan Army Infantry Battalion after the local branch of the policemen's union announced a cease of activities as of Monday. "We're paying them 2,80 US dollars an hour, plus food. The money is deposited with the treasury department of the battalion", said reliable sources from the Rio Negro county office. Besides soldiers Rio Negro authorities contracted 17 sailors, from the local fluvial Coast Guard outpost. "They get paid 3.70 US dollars per hour. We had to contract them over the weekend because we had to organize the launching of a rally from the city of Fray Bentos and we were concerned about too many people gathering", added the municipal sources. However the striking police union protested in an official release arguing that Ministry of Defence personnel, "with uniforms and distinctive vests are doing patrolling activities in roads and routes" which they allege under Uruguay's constitution is a job specifically limited to police forces. For months the Uruguayan police has been protesting and on occasions striking claiming higher salaries and improved working conditions. The Socialist administration of President Tabare Vazquez on taking office in March 2005 promoted the formation of unions in the police force.