Despite progress with Cuba, the Obama administration has done little to dispel doubts about Washington’s intentions towards its neighbors to the south.
Coups Return to Latin America
On June 22, the Paraguayan Congress impeached President Fernando Lugo, a progressive who assumed office in 2008. Although technically legal, Lugo’s removal threatens the very integrity of democracy in Paraguay. It is the latest in a disconcerting series of attacks against progressive governments in South America that highlights the vulnerability of its nascent democratic institutions and calls into question the trend of democratization in the region.
South America Responds to Coup in Paraguay
Ousted President Fernando Lugo never expected to effect much immediate change; he was fighting for the next generation. But his opposition was ruthless.
A State of Emergency in Paraguay: The Risks of Militarization
Since Apr. 26, a state of emergency has been in effect in five northern provinces of Paraguay, which represent a third of the nation’s territory. The government maintains that there is an active guerrilla presence in the region, although it has never been able to prove its existence. However, what is certain is that acts of violence have been committed by mafia organizations and the government is trying to resolve the situation through militarization.