PARAGUAY

[Guest]

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[Natasha]

Paraguay

Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay (Spanish: República del Paraguay pronounced [reˈpuβlika ðel paɾaˈɣwai]; Guaraní: Tetã Paraguái), is one of the only two landlocked countries in South America (along with Bolivia). It lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, bordering Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest, and is located in the very heart of South America.

The country is named for a river that runs almost right through the middle of it, from north to south. There are at least four versions for the origin of the river's name:

The literal translation from Guaraní is Para=great river or sea; Gua=from or belonging to or place; Y=water or river or lake. This could lead to:

"Water or river belonging to the sea" (the Atlantic Ocean).

"Water or river that belongs to a great river" (the Paraná River).

"Water or river that comes from a sea" or "water or river from the place where the sea is" (the Pantanal wetland).

The fourth version states that it could be a corruption from Pajaguay, "river of the Pajaguás", a tribe that inhabited the banks and navigated its course.


Paraguay's history has been characterized by long periods of authoritarian governments, political instability and infighting, and devastating wars with its neighbors. Its post-colonial history can be divided into several distinct periods:

1811 - 1816:  Establishment and consolidation of Paraguay's Independence
1816 - 1840:  Governments of José Gaspar Rodríguez de Francia
1840 - 1865:  Governments of Carlos Antonio Lopez and Francisco Solano Lopez
1865 - 1870:  War of the Triple Alliance
1870 - 1904:  Post-war reconstruction and Colorado Party governments
1904 - 1932:  Liberal Party governments and prelude to the Chaco War
1932 - 1935:  Chaco War
1935 - 1940:  Governments of the Revolutionary Febrerista Party and Jose Felix Estigarribia
1940 - 1948:  Higinio Morinigo government
1947 - 1954:  Paraguayan Civil War (March 1947 until August 1947) and the re-emergence of the Colorado Party
1954 - 1989:  Alfredo Stroessner dictatorship
1989 to date:  Transition to democracy


Paraguay is a developing country with a 2005 Human Development Index score of 0.755. It ranks as the second poorest country in South America with a 2007 GDP per capita of US$4,000. Approximately 2.1 million, or 35%, of its total population is poor and approximately 1 million, or 15.9%, are unemployed.

Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector that features both re-export of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries, and thousands of small business enterprises. Paraguay's largest economic activity is based on agriculture, agribusiness and cattle ranching. Paraguay is ranked as the world's third largest exporter of soybeans, and its beef exports are substantial for a country of its size. A large percentage of the population derive their living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. Despite difficulties arising from political instability, corruption and slow structural reforms, Paraguay has been a member of the free trade bloc Mercosur, participating since 1991 as one of the founding members.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraguay

[Claus-Peter]

[Claus-Peter]

Geography

California-size Paraguay is surrounded by Brazil, Bolivia, and Argentina in south-central South America. Eastern Paraguay, between the Paraná and Paraguay rivers, is upland country with the thickest population settled on the grassy slope that inclines toward the Paraguay River. The greater part of the Chaco region to the west is covered with marshes, lagoons, dense forests, and jungles.

Government

Constitutional republic.

History

Indians speaking Guaraní—the most common language in Paraguay today, after Spanish—were the country's first inhabitants. In 1526 and again in 1529, Sebastian Cabot explored Paraguay when he sailed up the Paraná and Paraguay rivers. From 1608 until their expulsion from the Spanish dominions in 1767, the Jesuits maintained an extensive establishment in the south and east of Paraguay. In 1811, Paraguay revolted against Spanish rule and became a nominal republic under two consuls.

Paraguay was governed by three dictators during the first 60 years of independence. The third, Francisco López, waged war against Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina in 1865–1870, a conflict in which half the male population was killed. A new constitution in 1870, designed to prevent dictatorships and internal strife, failed to do so, and not until 1912 did a period of comparative economic and political stability begin. The Chaco War (1932–1935) with Bolivia won Paraguay more western territory.

After World War II, politics became particularly unstable. Alfredo Stroessner was dictator from 1954 until 1989, during which he was accused of the torture and murder of thousands of political opponents. Despite Paraguay's human rights record, the U.S. continuously supported Stroessner.

Stroessner was overthrown by army leader Gen. Andres Rodriguez in 1989. Rodriguez went on to win Paraguay's first multicandidate election in decades. Paraguay's new constitution went into effect in 1992. In 1993, Juan Carlos Wasmosy, a wealthy businessman and the candidate of the governing Colorado Party, won a five-year term in free elections.

Raúl Cubas Grau was elected president in May 1998. In 1999, Cubas was forced from office for his alleged involvement in the assassination of Vice President Luis María Argaña. The vice president had criticized Cubas for refusing to jail his mentor, Gen. Lino Oviedo, who had been convicted of leading a failed 1996 coup against Wasmosy. Oviedo was finally arrested in 2004 and jailed.

Luis Ángel González Macchi, appointed caretaker president after Cubas stepped down, was accused of mishandling $16 million in state funds, and in 2006 he was sentenced to six years in prison. Former journalist Nicanor Duarte Frutos became president on Aug. 15, 2003. He has pledged to clean up the pervasive corruption in his nearly bankrupt country. Paraguay has been in a protracted recession since the late 1990s.

[Claus-Peter]

Republic of Paraguay


National name: República del Paraguay

President: Nicanor Duarte Frutos (2003)

Land area: 153,398 sq mi (397,301 sq km); total area: 157,046 sq mi (406,750 sq km)

Population (2007 est.): 6,667,147 (growth rate: 2.4%); birth rate: 28.8/1000; infant mortality rate: 23.9/1000; life expectancy: 75.3; density per sq mi: 43

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Asunción, 1,482,200 (metro. area), 525,100

Other large cities: Ciudad del Este, 239,500; San Lorenzo, 210,000

Monetary unit: Guaraní

Languages: Spanish, Guaraní (both official)

Ethnicity/race: mestizo 95%

Religions: Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite, other Protestant 10%

Literacy rate: 94% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $26.55 billion; per capita $4,000. Real growth rate: 4.5%. Inflation: 6%. Unemployment: 11.4%. Arable land: 7.47%. Agriculture: cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber. Labor force: 2.735 million; agriculture 31%; industry 17%; services 52%. Industries: sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, metallurgic, electric power. Natural resources: hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone. Exports: $6.898 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood, leather. Imports: $7.012 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical machinery. Major trading partners: Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Switzerland, China, U.S. (2004).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 331,100 (2006); mobile cellular: 3.233 million (2006). Radio broadcast stations: AM 41, FM 121, shortwave 6 (3 inactive) (2006). Radios: 925,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 5 (2007). Televisions: 990,000 (2001). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 12,497 (2007). Internet users: 260,000 (2006).

Transportation: Railways: total: 441 km (2002). Highways: total: 29,500 km; paved: 14,986 km; unpaved: 14,514 km (1999 est.). Waterways: 3,100 km. Ports and harbors: Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion. Airports: 838 (2007).

International conflicts: unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and drug trafficking, and harbors Islamist militants.

[Natasha]

Amnesty International Report 2007: Paraguay

Attachment: Amnesty International Report 2007: Paraguay (Word doc 2 pages)
www.amnesty.org

[Peter S]

Presidential election today in Paraguay.

BBC
Paraguay votes in key elections
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7357013.stm
Final rally for Paraguay hopefuls
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7354275.stm

New York Times
Trading Pulpit for Politics, Paraguay Cleric Is Favored
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/world/americas/20paraguay.html


Fernando Lugo, a former bishop, is the front-runner in Sunday’s Paraguayan presidential elections. Many analysts compare him to other South American populists with Socialist leanings


Xinhua News Agency / ChinaView
General elections begin in Paraguay
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/20/content_8016616.htm


The three leading candidates for the presidency of Paraguay (from L-R) former Roman Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo, former schoolteacher Blanca Ovelar, and former Army commander Lino Oviedo, are seen during a televised debate in this combination picture taken on April 3, 2008. Paraguayans will vote for their next president on April 20.  (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)

[cpbailey]

Wow!  Talk about variety in the candidates.  You have representation from religion, education and military all in one election. 

Colette

[Peter S]

Opposition victorious in Paraguay

Former Roman Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo has won Paraguay's presidential election, ending more than six decades of rule by the Colorado Party.

With results declared in most polling stations, Mr Lugo has 41% of the vote.

His main rival, Blanca Ovelar of the Colorado Party, has 31% and former army chief Lino Oviedo 22%.
. . .
Our correspondent says that jubilant supporters of Mr Lugo packed the streets of the capital, waving banners and singing songs, as it became clear not only that he had won, but that the victory would be respected.

Ms Ovelar, whose campaign to become the first woman president had suffered from internal party divisions, acknowledged defeat, and wished the country "a time of reconciliation" and "joint reconstruction".

Sitting President Nicanor Duarte Frutos hailed the democratic process: "For the first time in our history, one party will transfer power to another without a coup, without bloodshed and without fighting among brothers," he told a news conference.
. . .

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7357874.stm

Six decades of single-party rule in Paraguay came to an end on Sunday after Colorado Party candidate Blanca Ovelar conceded a loss to former Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo, who claimed the historic win on his promise to help the poor.
. . .

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/04/20/paraguay.elections/index.html

[Amy-in-PHX]

Paraguay Country Profile, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1222081.stm  [Excerpts]

Paraguay, one of South America's least densely populated countries, experienced more than three decades of dictatorship under Alfredo Stroessner, who was ousted in 1989 and died in exile in 2006.

The end of his iron-fisted rule did not bring political stability. Factional splits led to the assassination of a vice-president, the resignation of a president and an attempted coup.

Stroessner's party, the National Republican Association-Colorado Party, survived his departure and remained in power until 2008. In elections in April it was defeated by the centre-left Patriotic Alliance for Change led by Fernando Lugo.


Overview

Up to 95% of Paraguayans are mestizos, people of mixed Spanish and native American descent. Many speak the language of the indigenous Guarani; the rest are bilingual or only speak Spanish. There is a Japanese community, a legacy of post World War II migration.

With few mineral resources, Paraguay's economy revolves around agriculture. The 1990s saw slow, steady growth, but by 2002 the economy was in serious trouble, partly because of a financial crisis in neighbouring Argentina. Emergency loans - conditional on economic reforms - were negotiated with the IMF.

Corruption is widespread and Paraguay is a centre for smuggling, money laundering and organised crime.

The triple border region, where Paraguay touches both Argentina and Brazil, has long been associated with drug-smuggling and other contraband trade.

It is also home to a large Middle Eastern community, and the United States has identified it as a source of funding for Islamic militant groups - though Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay reject that allegation.

The commercialisation of agriculture, population growth and forest clearances have led to a dramatic increase in the number of landless families.

This has boosted migration into urban areas and shanty towns have burgeoned. Around 60% of Paraguayans live in poverty.

Much of the north-west is taken up by the Chaco, a vast and largely uninhabited plain. Paraguay and Bolivia fought over it in the 1930s; the war left 100,000 dead.


Media

Newspapers and broadcasters air a range of views, including those of the opposition. But journalists investigating corruption, or covering strikes and protests, risk intimidation and media outlets sometimes face legal harassment.

Reporters Without Borders, the media rights body, said in 2007 that journalists "do not dare probe too deeply into scandals involving politicians".

Unlicensed radio stations have flourished in the "tri-border area", where the frontiers of Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina meet.

[Amy-in-PHX]

Paraguayan music:




Paraguayan national dance, apparently called "Galopera," in which the dancers perform while balancing water jars on top of their heads (search the word "galopera" on youtube and you will see that about a gazillion versions have been uploaded: