IN THE 1960'S AND THE EARLY PART OF THE 1970'S, THE TUPAMAROS SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED 18 KIDNAPPINGS OF URUGUAYAN AND FOREIGN DIGNITARIES AND KILLED LARGE NUMBERS OF POLICE. OPERATING FROM STRATEGICALLY PLACED AND WELL-HIDDEN BUNKERS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE AND USING THE SEWER SYSTEM OF MONTEVIDEO, THE TUPAMAROS OPERATED AT WILL AS THEIR NUMBERS AND BOLDNESS GREW. IN SEPTEMBER 1971, URUGUAY'S PRESIDENT SIGNED A DECREE PLACING THE ARMY, NAVY, AND AIR FORCE IN CHARGE OF THE ANTISUBVERSIVE CAMPAIGN. IN APRIL 1972, THE PARLIAMENT DECLARED A 'STATE OF INTERNAL WAR' AND THE SUSPENSION OF CIVIL RIGHTS. THIS COMBINATION OF ACTIONS, ALONG WITH OTHER INFLUENCES, STRUCK A CRIPPLING BLOW AT THE TUPAMAROS. REASONS FOR THE EVENTUAL TUPAMARO FAILURE WERE THE ATTACKS UPON THE MILITARY WHICH AROUSED A FORMIDABLE OPPONENT, THE DIFFICULTY OF MIDDLE-CLASS YOUTH OF TUPAMAROS IN TOLERATING LIVING IN THE RURAL AREAS, THE FAILURE TO GENERATE HELP FROM THE RURAL PEASANTRY, THE LACK OF STRATEGY FOR STRIKING AT THE VITAL SYSTEMS OF THE COUNTRY, AND THE INCREASING LAXNESS IN SECURITY MEASURES DUE TO OVERRECRUITING. ADDING TO THESE PROBLEMS OF THE TUPAMARO'S THE GOVERNMENT'S REPRESSIVE ACTIONS WERE CAREFULLY CONTROLLED TO AVOID A MILITARY DICTATORSHIP AND THE GENERAL ALIENATION OF THE POPULACE. INSTEAD, THE ASCENDING VIOLENCE AND MURDER PERPETRATED BY THE TUPAMAROS ANGERED THE CITIZENRY. (RCB)