News

Last Friday, June 22, was a sad day in Latin America. After a summary impeachment by the Paraguayan Senate, where the defense team did not have either the time or the opportunity to refute the charges brought against him, democratically elected President Fernando Lugo was “removed from office”.

The response to this technical coup d’état didn't take long. It came first from Paraguay itself, where a crowd occupied the square in front of Parliament. Demonstrators were forcibly dispersed with rubber bullets and tear gas. Then Latin American countries reacted in quick succession. In recent hours, Ecuador, Venezuela, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia and Colombia have permanently or temporarily recalled their ambassadors from Asunción.

Mercosur has issued a statement announcing its decision to “suspend, on an immediate basis and by this very act, the right of Paraguay to take part in the XLIII Meeting of the Common Market Council and Mercosur Presidential Summit, and any prior preparatory meetings”. Meetings will be held on June 27, 28 and 29, and the attendance of the “ousted” Fernando Lugo has already been announced.

Also, the Organization of American States (OAS) qualified the ouster of President Lugo as a “summary judgement”, and stated that the Paraguayan Senate had infringed on his right to “due process”. The statement says that the international community has expressed its doubts as to whether “the universal principles of the due process of law and the lawful right of any accused person to defend themselves through all procedural means available” have been observed.

At the same time, in neighboring Bolivia President Evo Morales has denounced an attempted coup d’état after the so-called “police wives” demonstrations lapsed into the taking of barracks on Thursday, June 24. On Friday night hundreds of police agents sacked and burned files from the intelligence agency, Police Disciplinary Tribunal and Interpol offices. Minister of the Presidency Carlos Romero stated on Saturday, June 23, that the police radio frequency has broadcasted calls to “wipe off Minister Romero and create a coup.” President Evo Morales has put the blame for this attempted putsch on the people that promoted neoliberal economic policies in recent decades: “those who privatized [state-owned companies] are using our brothers of the police to stage a coup d’état, get the Minister of the Presidency killed and clash with Armed Forces.”

Facing this situation, UNI Americas is calling for the strong defense of democracy and the achievements made in recent years. As workers, we have borne the brunt of the dictatorships and their neoliberal policies. As workers, we have struggled and taken action to change the course of history. We must be the ones who, from the very beginning, stand up against attempts to return to the past, when the majority had no voice. Now we must use our voice as the majority to fight against these attempts to destabilize our society.

Rubén Cortina 

President

UNI Américas



Adriana Rosenzvaig 

Regional Secretary 

UNI Américas