Paraguayans Protest Dictatorship Legacy 70 Years On, Challenge Right-Wing Party

Crowds gathered around the newly elected socialist mayor of Asunción, Paraguay's capital, to dismantle a bronze statue of Gen. Alfredo Stroessner. This act of defiance occurred two years after his 1989 ouster. Stroessner, Latin America's longest-ruling dictator, had a 35-year reign marked by terror, killing hundreds and imprisoning thousands.

Protests Against Democratic Backsliding

On Thursday, hundreds of protesters marched through downtown Asunción. They raised their fists and chanted, "Never again, dictatorship." Hugo Valiente from Amnesty International in Paraguay said, "We're witnessing a curtailing of civil liberties," citing recent government actions aimed at discouraging freedom of association.

Emilio Barreto, an 84-year-old unionist's son, reflected on Stroessner's enduring influence. "Stroessner planted a seed, and that seed has germinated," he said. Barreto was among nearly 20,000 Paraguayans tortured and imprisoned without charge during Stroessner's rule. He noted that Paraguay has experienced 35 years of dictatorship followed by 35 years of so-called democracy.

Opposition Voices and Government Response

Paraguay's small but passionate opposition led Thursday's protest. Kattya González, a centre-left senator and vocal government critic, was expelled from the Senate last February. She had garnered the third-most votes in last year's legislative elections. Rights groups said her ejection violated due process and was orchestrated by allies of former President Horacio Cartes.

The government attributed González's expulsion to the will of Congress, where the Colorado party holds a majority. In June, the party also removed a lawmaker who had spoken out against Cartes' alleged corruption. Last week, Paraguay demanded the United States expedite its ambassador's departure after the White House imposed sanctions on a tobacco company linked to Cartes.

Legacy of Stroessner's Rule

Historian Milda Rivarola commented on Stroessner's lasting impact. "The totalitarian control of Stroessner created a real identification between political party and the state," she said. This unique political regime has prevented Paraguay from having a progressive government. The left-wing opposition held power only once from 2008-2012 before its president was impeached.

Efforts to address crimes against humanity have been more extensive in neighbouring Argentina than in Paraguay. Argentine courts have convicted hundreds of military officers for dictatorship-era crimes and identified 800 victims through forensic teams. In contrast, Paraguay has not held significant trials for junta leaders.

Carlos Filizzola, former mayor of Asunción, recalled the symbolic triumph of 1991 when the statue was torn down. He raised concerns about a recent bill expanding government powers to audit nonprofits. Critics argue it mimics measures in Russia and Venezuela that stifle civil society. The United Nations has appealed to Paraguay's lower house to reject it.

Rogelio Goiburú oversees efforts to recover victims' remains for the Justice Ministry. His father disappeared during Stroessner's dictatorship. "In our country, this history of the dictatorship is hidden; there's no policy of memory," he said. Public schools avoid mentioning the dictatorship in national history lessons.

The Justice Ministry commission lacks budget or state support for identifying victims' remains. Only four victims have been identified with help from Argentine researchers. Goiburú continues his work driven by the motto "Never Again." He emphasised the importance of remembering history to prevent its recurrence.

The urgency surrounding democratic backsliding coincides with the 70th anniversary of Stroessner's coup and one year since President Santiago Peña's inauguration. Concerns about democratic erosion have intensified among activists who hoped for stronger civic institutions post-Stroessner.

The enduring influence of Stroessner was evident in 2018 when Paraguay elected then-President Mario Abdo Benítez, son of Stroessner's personal secretary who served as a pallbearer at the dictator's funeral in 2006. This connection underscores how deeply entrenched Stroessner's legacy remains in Paraguayan politics.

The government's recent moves have sparked public outrage and protests as citizens demand accountability and transparency. The struggle for democracy continues as Paraguay grapples with its past while striving for a more just future.

Filizzola named a riverside park Plaza of the Disappeared in 1991 to honour those lost during the dictatorship. "That's why we have to continue," he said, emphasising the need to remember history and ensure such atrocities never happen again.