Latin American Leaders Gather in Paraguay Ahead of Pres. Inaugurati

[Say_What]

<clips>

Latin American leaders are gathering in Paraguay ahead of the presidential inauguration of Nicanor Duarte.

Cuban President Fidel Castro and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez arrived in Paraguay early Thursday, the eve of the swearing-in.

The leaders of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay are also expected to attend the ceremony. The presidents are also holding a meeting of the South American trading bloc Mercosur.

<http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=B8E6B409-74E6-464E-A5AAE9BC95F5587F>

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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, right, and Cuba's Fidel Castro (news - web sites) greet each other upon arrival to Asuncion, Paraguay, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2003, on the eve of the inauguration of Paraguayan President-elect Nicanor Duarte Frutos. In Venezuela, Chavez's opponents plan to turn in a petition on Aug. 20, the midpoint in his six-year term, demanding a recall referendum on his rule. (AP Photo/Juan Carlos Solorzano,Miraflores Press)

[pinerow]

1. As well they should...

A vigorous effort should be made to follow the EU.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Paraguay may be having trouble until it's finally back under the control

of right-wing politicians.

Found this very simple description of Paraguay's recent dictator, Alfredo Stroessner, who was never vilified here:

(snip)Alfredo Stroessner seized power in Paraguay in 1954. European correspondents who visited Paraguay during his rule used the term the "poor man's Nazi regime" to describe the Paraguayan government. Of German descent, Stroessner was a great admirer of Nazism, and this showed not only in the refuge he offered to many Nazi war criminals, such as Joseph Mengele, but also in his ruthless methods.
From the Nazis the Paraguayan military learned the art of genocide. The native Ache Indians were in the way of progress, progress represented by American and European corporations who planned to exploit the nation's forests, mines, and grazing lands. The Indians were hunted down, parents killed, and children sold into slavery. Survivors were herded into reservations headed by American fundamentalist missionaries, some of whom had participated in the hunts. (snip/)

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/US_ThirdWorld/dictators.html

A time line for Alfredo Stroessner, who accepted various notorious Nazi war criminals, like Mengele in Paraguay:

http://dictatorstyrants.bravepages.com/stroessner.html

I've read that Nicanor Duarte has promised not to privatize government services. That should put him on SOMEONE'S hit list!

Interesting photo, Say_What. Thank you.

[0007]

3. Ah, such brotherhood and love south of the border -

How come Mexico's Fox and junior aren't good friends anymore?

Didn't take Fox long to catch on to the little liar.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Speaking of Chavez, here's news on the progress of the Venezuelan poor

We don't get a lot of news about them here through our own media, for some reason, do we?

(snip)Venezuela's slum army takes control


THE OBSERVER
Monday, Aug 11, 2003,Page 7
The economy is in a shambles, the country is torn by social strife. The government is paralyzed by factional conflicts, and the virulent media denounce a new public scandal nearly every day.

But in the sprawling hillside slums of Caracas, there is optimism. A startling buzz of activity from the very bottom of society's ladder is beginning to affect an embattled Venezuela. Since weathering a coup in April last year and a debilitating strike early this year, President Hugo Chavez has pushed through measures aimed at promoting civic participation among the poor.

And the result may well prove to be the turning point of Venezuela's fortunes.

In the teeming barrios of the capital, a quiet revolution is under way. Meeting in dilapidated school houses and potholed alleyways, Venezuelans have formed neighborhood groups to fix deficient water supply systems, to organize volunteer efforts at local schools and to launch recycling campaigns. (snip/...)

~~~~ link ~~~~

[Judi Lynn]

5. I just stumbled across a photo of Josef Mengele

WITHOUT looking for him.

I wonder how many Americans know he was allowed to live in Paraguay by the right-wing dicator Alfredo Stroessner, who was completely accepted by our own Republican presidents.




The older but still Mengele Mengele.