Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASUNCION701
2006-07-10 14:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Asuncion
Cable title:
PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE, JULY 1 - 7
how-toVZCZCXYZ0019 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHAC #0701/01 1911401 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 101401Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4480 INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL//SCJ5// RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
UNCLAS ASUNCION 000701
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/BSC AND EB/IFD/OIA
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/AA
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR LYANG
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER
TREASURY FOR OTA WARFIELD, VAN KOCH, MILLAR
COMMERCE FOR ITA SARAH COOK
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG KWMN KCRM PA SP
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE, JULY 1 - 7
2006
UNCLAS ASUNCION 000701
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/BSC AND EB/IFD/OIA
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/AA
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR LYANG
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER
TREASURY FOR OTA WARFIELD, VAN KOCH, MILLAR
COMMERCE FOR ITA SARAH COOK
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG KWMN KCRM PA SP
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE, JULY 1 - 7
2006
¶1. (U) SUMMARY:
-- National Indigenous Movement
-- Sexual Harassment in Military Academy
-- 1,500 Paraguayan Prostitutes in Spain
-- Fiscal Adjustment Law Effects Positive on Economy
-- Drug Judge Talks with Ambassador about Safety
--------------
National Indigenous Movement
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¶2. (U) On 6/30, leaders from Paraguay's ten indigenous
nations announced the founding of a National Indigenous
Movement. The goal is to demand their rights and work towards
gaining representation in Congress. The leaders hope to
present a candidate in the next general elections. They feel
it is especially important to have indigenous representation
within the legislative branch because politicians from other
parties have made offers to the communities during election
times but failed to produce any significant improvement once
in office. The indigenous people feel ignored by the
government and do not have real access to the political
system or other public services such as health care and
education. The first convention of the new movement is
scheduled for September 2006. According to the 2002 census,
the indigenous population is 87,099, which represents 1.7
percent of the country's population.
¶3. (U) Comment: Local human rights activists and
international organizations confirm that indigenous groups do
not have good access to the political system, and that
government officials have generally neglected their needs as
their living conditions continue to deteriorate. In the
department of Boqueron in the Chaco where the indigenous are
most highly concentrated, the groups are well organized and
have gained government representation and funding on a local
level. There is a federation in the Chaco that incorporates
several of the country's 20 indigenous ethnicities. Experts
describe it as well organized though it comprises less than
80 percent of the indigenous population. The Paraguayan
Institute of Indigenous People (INDI) is the only institution
for indigenous people that receives limited funding from the
government. The indigenous groups do not enj