Category Archives: Paraguay

The Paraguayan People’s Army (EPP): How to define it? and why should we care?

By W. Alejandro "Alex" Sánchez | Published: April 2, 2010
The Ejercito del Pueblo Paraguayo (Paraguayan People’s Army) is beginning to become a household name. For the moment it has focused its operations around kidnapping wealthy Paraguayans and demanding ransom for their return, One of the latest victims was Fidel Zavala, who was captive for 94 days and finally freed on January 17. Nevertheless, as [...]
Posted in Paraguay | Leave a comment

Paraguay’s Anti-Terrorist Group and the US

By Eliot Brockner | Published: November 10, 2009
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 , , , | Leave a comment

Brazil’s Army Cont’d

By Eliot Brockner | Published: February 1, 2009
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 [...]
Also posted in Brazil | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Brazil’s Other Frontier

By Eliot Brockner | Published: January 24, 2009
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 [...]
Also posted in Brazil | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Atypical Foreign Creditor

By Eliot Brockner | Published: November 30, 2008
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 [...]
Also posted in Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Challenges Ahead for Paraguay’s New President

By Eliot Brockner | Published: August 23, 2008
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 [...]
Also posted in Brazil | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Elections in Paraguay: Hope and Fear of Change

By María Cecilia Rodríguez Alcalá | Published: April 20, 2008
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 [...]
Posted in Paraguay | Tagged , , | 1 Comment