UN Condemns Human Rights Violations in Paraguay

[Judi Lynn]

UN Condemns Human Rights Violations in Paraguay
Published 1 April 2015

Following the release of the report, the head of the elite military unit was sacked.


The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) urged the Paraguayan government under President Horacio Cartes on Monday to review human rights violations committed in the South American country.

The communique specifically referred to the actions of the Joint Task Force group, a unit of the Armed Forces of Paraguay composed of military and police fighting against the Paraguayan People's Army guerrillas in the north.

. . .

The U.N. concerns come following a report by the National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture in Paraguay which warned that the country's legal framework allows the task force to conduct military incursions on matters of “internal security” without any time limit.

. . .

Other evidence mentioned included a growing number of armed attacks by the military against unarmed civilians on unfounded suspicions, along with abuses in rural estates which have been reported by Catholic clergy.

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/UN-Condemns-Human-Rights-Violations-in-Paraguay-20150401-0002.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Here's an situation our own corporate anti-Lugo media completely buried regarding Paraguay:

Nationwide anti-privatisation strike paralyses Asuncion

Mar Thursday 27th 2014


The strike stopped transport services and closed schools and most businesses


Paraguay's capital Asuncion was paralysed on Wednesday by a nationwide strike against the privatisation plans of President Horacio Cartes. The strike stopped transport services and closed schools and most businesses in the south American country, said union leader Aldo Snead.

The unions want Mr Cartes to roll back a law enabling private companies to invest in government infrastructure. They are also demanding 25 per cent pay raises and more access to credit for poor people to start businesses.

Public Works Minister Ramon Jimenez said the sell-off plan included the international airport that serves Asuncion, state-owned water treatment plants and the construction of toll roads linking the capital with Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia. It also affected the agency that dredges the Paraguay river and keeps the landlocked country with a navigable sea outlet.

President Cartes acknowledged that Paraguay's workers have legitimate complaints, but has shown no sign of backing down.

Groups from six national trade unions, farmer's organisations across the country, youth from the National Union of Students and left-wing political parties all supported the protest. Thousands of peasants arrived in lorries to join trade unionists in a protest that covered the entire city.

More:
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a-241b-Nationwide-anti-privatisation-strike-paralyses-Asuncion#.VSNE_GdFDDc

You recall around the time the Paraguayan right-wing legislature threw Lugo out of office, our own corporate media couldn't stop yammering about it.

This is a very LARGE situation and we didn't hear one peep from them. I guess we're supposed to be comfortable with their pro-right choices about what news we get and what we don't, just let them make our choices on what we know and what we don't.