PARAGUAY: LARGE, PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION MARKS

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000348

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA
STATE PASS TO USAID LAC/AA
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD BARBARA JOHNSON
JOINT STAFF FOR J5 LTC SCOTT DAVIS
NAIROBI FOR MICHAEL FITZPATRICK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: LARGE, PEACEFUL DEMONSTRATION MARKS
DISSATISFACTION WITH PRESIDENT

REF: ASUNCION 00296


1. SUMMARY: March 29, 30,000-40,000 members of the
opposition parties, university students, labor unions, and
other organizations united to march in opposition to
President Duarte. The protesters objected to a Supreme Court
ruling, Duarte's brief assumption of the Colorado presidency,
and his desire for reelection. The marchers called for
resignation of the five members of the Supreme Court, who
ruled Duarte could assume the Colorado presidency. They
carried banners declaring "Dictatorship, Never Again!" and
"Nicanor, Liar!" The peaceful march concluded in front of the
old Congress building, where the leader of the protest,
Monsignor Lugo, addressed the crowd and called for Duarte to
apologize to the Paraguayan people and for the Supreme Court
to resign. The march represents growing dissatisfaction with
President Duarte and served as a positive example of
non-violent civic participation. END SUMMARY.


2. On the evening of March 29, members of the opposition
political parties, including the Liberals (PLRA),Patria
Querida (PPQ),The National Union Of Ethical Citizens Party
(UNACE),Pais Solidario (PPS),and several dissident members
of the Colorado Party (ANR) led a large group of largely
middle class citizens, families, university students and
professors, church groups, and labor union members in a
peaceful march against the recent actions of President Duarte
to deepen his grip on power. Press reports between
30,000-40,000 citizens participated in the protest, far above
the numbers some predicted. Marchers finished in front of
the old Congress building. Many marchers carried posters and
banners declaring "Dictatorship, Never Again!" and "Nicanor,
Liar." According to press reporting, groups also gathered
around the country in Encarnacion and Pilar to join the march
and voice their opposition to Duarte. In Encarnacion as many
as 500 people participated.


3. The march culminated with speeches from leaders of the
protest, including controversial former San Pedro Bishop
Fernando Lugo, who noted the march was a "true citizens,
resistance." He underscored the reason for the protest was
to call attention to the violation of the constitution by
five members of the Supreme Court (ref A) and the President's
attempt to "inaugurate a new era of dictatorship" in
Paraguay. Lugo called for the resignation of the Supreme
Court Justices; if they did not resign on their own, he asked
the Congress to remove them. Lugo also called on President
Duarte to apologize to the Paraguayan people for his "absurd
and farfetched actions," clearly referring to his efforts to
consolidate his authority and make a run at reelection. Lugo
pointed out the unity of the diverse group of political and
civic organizations present at the march indicated that
Paraguayans are tired of the government's abuse of power,
extending to constitutional violations. He emphasized that
Paraguayans would not stand for such abuses.

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Rumors of Violence Prove Unfounded
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4. RSO reports that there were no incidents of violence
during the evening's protest. Paraguayan Police placed
approximately 2000 policemen at the scene to provide security
and quell any possible outbreak of violence. According to
the RSO, Minister of Interior Rogelio Benitez and the Police
Commander Fidel Isasa issued explicit orders for the police
to not carry arms to the site. Police contacts did note one
group of approximately 40 university students carrying
anti-U.S. signs and chanting "Yankee Killers."

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Reactions to the March
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5. Before the protest, Duarte had delivered mixed messages.
On the one hand, he characterized the demonstration as a
conspiracy driven effort to undermine his authority. At the

same time, he asked the opposition to remain open to pursuing
a dialogue on reform issues. Television coverage monitored
Colorado Party allies of President Duarte entering and
exiting the Presidential residence all night in display of
support for Duarte. ANR party youth organizations plastered
the city's main roads with banners declaring support for
Duarte. Civil society representatives described the march as
a clear display of civic responsibility, offering hope that
conditions can change for the better in Paraguay. Several
contacts, including a Paraguayan prosecutor, noted that the
diverse nature of those in attendance reflected the
overwhelming dissatisfaction of everyday Paraguayans with the
current political scene.

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Comment
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6. Post considers this demonstration a significant, positive
development in Paraguay's ongoing transition to democracy.
Opposition members and members of broader civil society
peacefully united briefly and firmly voiced their
dissatisfaction with the President for his perceived
aspirations to expand his power. In the history of Paraguay,
to have 30,000 to 40,000 protesters gather peacefully and
without provoking a hostile reaction from the government
represents an important step in Paraguay's evolution into a
more mature democratic state. For context, however, we note
that three-hundred thousand voted for Duarte in the recent
Colorado primary.


7. The role of Monsignor Lugo in heading this protest proved
less controversial than originally expected. (Note: Lugo was
forced to step down as the Bishop in the Department of San
Pedro in 2005 -- ostensibly for his high profile advocacy for
and leadership of campesino demonstrations that included land
invasions that occasionally became violent. Lugo is also
rumored to have fathered a child which may have served the
immediate reason for his resignation End Note). Some
opposition leaders, including Patria Querida's Pedro Fadul
who seeks to project an image of himself as a moderate,
responsible leader, may live to regret being photographed
holding hands with Lugo on the eve of the demonstration.
However, given the apparent success of the demonstration and
Lugo's efforts to rein in his rhetoric, the opposition
appears to have averted a negative spin on its affiliation
with Lugo. Organizers may have agreed on Lugo as spokesman
to avoid a fight among political parties for this leadership
position. The press noted that party leaders still jockeyed
for prominence, as with the Liberals intentionally arriving
very early to dominate choice spots before the cameras.


8. Notwithstanding the success of the March 29 protest,
organizers have been vague about next steps. Duarte and his
cabinet ministers for their part exercised restraint in their
remarks highlighting the fact that the police in no way
interfered in the demonstration. Rare opposition unity
reflects real public distaste for NDF's antics, but is
probably short-lived unless Duarte overplays his hand.
CASON