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Category Archives: Paraguay
Paraguay’s Anti-Terrorist Group and the US
On 4 November 2009, the United States announced they would donate US$1.39 million in equipment towards the formation of an elite unit of highly trained troops in the Paraguayan army. Backed by US funding (sources put the total amount of the expedition at US$3 million) and training from SOUTHCOM, the troops are trained in counterterrorism [...]
Also posted in Brazil, United States Tagged border issues, Fernando Lugo, security, Terrorism Leave a comment
Brazil’s Army Cont’d
I recently had a letter published in this week’s edition (January 31-February 6) of The Economist. The letter, which I’ve copied and pasted below, is in response to this article about the Brazilian military from the January 17 edition of the economist, and is related to the 24 January commentary found on LatAmThought about securing [...]
Brazil’s Other Frontier
It is far less alluring, polarizing, and smaller than the Amazon. It attracts very few tourists and minimal attention from Brazilian and international conservation groups. Nestled between the Paraguay and Paraná rivers lay an isolated area known as the Chaco, home to an approximately 500 mile-long border shared by Brazil and Paraguay. Just southeast of [...]
The Atypical Foreign Creditor
On 21 November Brazilian authorities recalled the Brazilian ambassador to Ecuador following a public announcement by Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa that the Ecuadorian government would not pay a $243 million dollar debt to the state-owned Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) for the underwriting of construction on the San Francisco dam. Odebrecht, the Brazilian engineering company that [...]
Challenges Ahead for Paraguay’s New President
On 15 August Paraguay welcomed the first president who was not a member of the Colorado party in 61 years with the swearing in of 57 year-old former Bishop Fernando Lugo.
The former clergy member had to resign his position as Bishop before being allowed to run, due to a law in Paraguay that does not allow clergy [...]
Elections in Paraguay: Hope and Fear of Change
Today, after 61 years of continual rule by the Colorado Party, there is widespread uncertainty in Paraguay. The potential for change has characterized the general election from its outset, where the opposition, for the first time in decades, has a leading advantage. In contrast to former elections, people today are actually wondering whether a non-Colorado [...]
The Paraguayan People’s Army (EPP): How to define it? and why should we care?