Paraguay: The State Sends Troops Against the Peasantry in Canindeyú
Featured image: Paraguayan special troops sent to the region of Curuguaty, province of Canindeyú. Source: A Nova Democracia.
The Paraguayan State has sent troops to the province of Canindeyú, bordering Brazil, reports A Nova Democracia (AND). The son of a land-grabbing big landlord was kidnapped by guerrilla combatants in this area. The incident occurred on 21st of February and the State used that as an excuse for a further increase of the militarization of the countryside, under the guise of combating the Paraguayan People’s Army (EPP).
The son of the big landlord, Almir de Brum da Silva, was the target due to the eviction and attacks against the peasantry in the area by latifundium. The State reacted immediately to protect the interests of the big landlord. The area of Canindeyú is considered “explosive” due to the struggle of the peasants. The State uses two major excuses to criminalize the justified peasant struggle: alleged cannabis harvesting and the role of the EPP in the area. That is how the government used the discourse of the “war on drugs” and “against criminal groups”, for a further militarization and repression in the area.
As we reported, in the province of Canindeyú there was already an attack at the beginning of February, when the Paraguayan National Police attacked and attempted to evict indigenous peasant families in the latifundium Estancia Americana. The national police used live ammunition and tear gas against the families:
The government of Paraguay, led by Santiago Peña, has also authorized the use of the armed forces within the national territory, with the decree “Law N° 5.036/13”, against “criminal groups”. Doing so, the government has a new legal framework for the war against the people. The government has accused the EPP of several other incidents in the same area, including several attacks during January against henchmen of big landlord companies.
These references to the “war on drugs” and “against criminal groups” have been largely used by Santiago Peña, who was present in the meeting of the so-called Shield of the Americas, and who has stated that they are preparing themselves for the “internal challenges” and praised the role of Yankee imperialism. On Tuesday the 10th of March, the Congress of Paraguay approved the military agreement that allows the deployment of Yankee troops in the country, making the Peña government’s lackey character quite clear.
