Former Detainees Test Patience of Uruguayan Hosts
Detainees recently released from Guantanamo Bay and settled in Uruguay seem to be wearing out their welcome by constantly airing grievances against the Uruguayan state that many feel are unwarranted.
The New York Times reports that the six detainees released from Guantanamo have begun protests against the government of Uruguay alleging that they are not receiving the support they need.
The men, four Syrians, a Tunisian, and a Palestinian claim the government of Uruguay has failed to provide adequate housing and other material resources. The government says that the men are indeed properly housed and receive a monthly stipend equivalent to $600 a month. That figure puts the men on par with 40 percent of the Uruguayan workforce.
The men have also turned down numerous job offers provided by a local union that was instrumental in to the men's relocation. The jobs included cooking, construction, and various odd jobs.
The men claim they still suffered debilitating effects from their detention at Guantanamo, which lasted for more than a decade, at this why they cannot work. At the same time however, they have also admitted they are not making efforts to learn Spanish, further stoking Uruguayan resentment.
The conflict between the resettled former detainees and Uruguay seems to stem in large part from a government request that in Feb. of 2016 they pay for their own housing. The government also requested that they pay taxes on their monthly financial stipend.
The Palestinian has agreed to those terms, but the five other former detainees have balked at the proposal. This led to the Uruguayan foreign minister threatening to cancel all their financial aid if they do not sign the new proposal.
