Filtro

Auditorio de Tenerife has scheduled in its La Salita hall the theatrical work Filtro, directed by María Goiricelaya of the company La Dramática Errante. After the performance on Friday the 15th, there will be a talk with the public moderated by the students of Canary Islands Acting School as part of a collaboration agreement with the Auditorio de Tenerife.

Night of 24 August 1994 in Montevideo (Uruguay).

On that night, near the Hospital Filtro medical centre, which was next to what was then the seat of the presidency, leaders of the Frente Amplio party and the national trade union PIT-CNT called for a protest against the extradition of three members of the terrorist organisation ETA, following the high court of Uruguay’s authorisation of their transfer.

Meanwhile, the radio broadcaster CX 44 Radio Panamericana asked listeners to gather. As a result, thousands of people attended the protest, demanding political asylum for the three members of the terrorist organisation.

Shouting in the streets.

Amid the escalating tension, the police proceeded to take the three terrorists to Carrasco International Airport to send them back to Spain. The crowd’s shouting grew in intensity.

As the situation deteriorated, there was pushing, followed by more shouting, until the police charged the civilians.

During these confrontations, Uruguayans closely followed the live television broadcast showing national mounted police pursuing the protestors.

In the chaos, Agustín Lasa, a nurse attempting to help one of the victims, was shot four times in the back.

Similarly, eighteen-year-old Carlos Alberto Pontes was hospitalised after being shot in the head and losing brain tissue.

Twenty-four-year-old Álvaro Masoni died after receiving 12 gunshots during the protest.

Additionally, photographer Alberto Pascal died after being stabbed 12 times.

As the night wore on, at 9 p.m., the street lights in the area were switched off, and telephone service was interrupted for six hours.

Later, at 10:20 p.m., the three terrorists left the hospital in three escorted ambulances and were taken to Carrasco Air Force Base.

At the hospital, several public servants bid the terrorists farewell, singing verses of the Uruguayan national anthem as they departed.

Finally, at 11:45 p.m., a Boeing 707 of the Spanish Air Force departed for Madrid.

According to official reports, one person died, over 100 civilians suffered severe injuries (15 from gunshots) and innumerable persons were less seriously injured, including 44 police officers.

The riot is considered the worst case of street violence and repression on record since the return of democracy to Uruguay in 1985.