Violent night in Paraguay: at least 18 injured during demonstrations against the management of the pandemic

ASSUMPTION.- At least 18 people were injured last night during a demonstration in central Asunción, against the government of Paraguay and its handling of the pandemic, which ended in clashes with the police and a crackdown, and for this Saturday new demonstrations are announced, report local media.

The newspaper ABC He also mentions a deceased person, identified as 32-year-old Alejandro Daniel Florentín, although the Hoy portal indicates that the death is not linked to the clashes, but to a police act in a house located in the same area where the incidents took place. are produced.

The head of public relations of the national police, Elena Andrada, also said that the deceased was not linked to the protest, as reported by Paraguayan television GEN.

After the violent clashes on Friday, Aidé Vera, from the Escrache Commission of self-summoned citizens, commented that a new demonstration will take place this Saturday. “Against corruption in government, to demand the resignation of President Mario Abdo Benítez.”

Until Friday, The number of infected reached 165,811 and the death toll was 3,278 since the first case was reported on March 7, 2020. Carlos Morínigo, pulmonologist at the National Institute of Respiratory and Environmental Diseases (Ineram), which concentrates the most serious patients of Covid-19, said that hospitals are “working hard” and that “the situation is complicated”.

Friday’s demonstration, initially peaceful, was called with the National Congress to demand the resignation of the president for the management of the pandemic. The protest was broadcast on social media under the slogan “Am I for Marzoparaguayo2021?” – a slogan which referred to the Paraguayan march of 1999, a month of intense demonstrations – and without calling for the mobilization of political parties or organizations.

According to the newspapers ABC Yes Last hour, at least two hooded youths called for advancing against a police fence and officers responded by firing rubber bullets and tear gas at the crowd. This sparked clashes that lasted for several minutes with protesters throwing rubble and stones in response to the crackdown.

Local media report at least 18 injured, although the only official confirmation is a police statement that only mentions the 12 injured officers. Interior Minister Arnaldo Giuzzio, for his part, told local media that President Abdo Benítez expressed concern over clashes and assured that the violence was caused by a group that was not part of the protesters.

The opposition, on the other hand, held the president accountable and said that there are reasons to promote impeachment “for the poor performance of their duties”.

The protest was called amid questions about the handling of the pandemic which led to the resignation of Health Minister Julio Mazzoleni yesterday. Among the controversies surrounding the management of the government is the lack of drugs and supplies in hospitals to treat patients with coronavirus.

This week, the Paraguayan Association of Nurses (APE) demanded that the government quickly buy supplies and medicine, and the Paraguayan Circle of Physicians has estimated that a total quarantine must be organized faced with this state of unsustainability of public services. Besides Asunción, similar protests took place yesterday in Alto Paraná, Ciudad del Este, Itapúa and Aguaray.

ANSA and DPA agencies

THE NATION

More information