To live in clandestinity thinking about coming back: The life stories of Uruguayan communists in Buenos Aires under “the Process”

Abstract

During the early seventies, Argentina presented itself as a land of refuge or as a place for the reorganization and resistance for the exiled Uruguayan communist activists who had different insertion points in the party structure. The transition from the “camporista” spring to the dictatorship transformed conditions of life and activism. Argentina shifted from a welcoming space to a hunting ground for the repressive coordination of the South Cone. The communist exile constituted —according to recovered testimonials— a learning experience of rules, communication practices, coexistence styles, ways to endure distance, loneliness, clandestinity. During exile other activities that had as objective the resistance, reorganization, return to the country of origin, settlement of underground contacts, impeachment and international solidarity were faced as well.