Two People Die after Paraguay Declares State of Emergency

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, July 17, 2002

Two People Die after Paraguay Declares State of Emergency

Two people were killed late Monday as violent protest continued in Paraguay after the government declared a state of emergency, reports from the capitalcity of Asuncion said.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Two people were killed late Monday as violent protest continued in Paraguay after the government declared a state of emergency, reports from the capitalcity of Asuncion said.

The two persons died from gunshot wounds after being sent to a hospital in Ciudad del Este, the report quoting hospital sources as saying. The tragedy took place after police clashed with about 500 protesters at a bridge on the border between Paraguay and Brazil.

About 50 people were injured and 100 arrested since the declaration of the state of emergency, which was announced earlierMonday in response to a series of anti-government protests.

Interior Minister Victor Hermoza said the state of emergency will last for five days. He also said the protests were a conspiracy by former Army chief Lino Oviedo, who was accused of masterminding a coup attempt on May 18, 2000, and now is in exile in Brazil. However, a spokesman for Oviedo denied the accusations.

The authorities will proceed with the arrest of the main leaders of the demonstrations, Hermoza said.

Demonstrators, demanding the resignation of President Luis Gonzalez Macchi, protested against the government's economic policy. Stricken by neighboring Argentina's economic crisis and Brazil's plummeting currency, Paraguay devalued its currency this year, causing the country's stagnating economic situation, which began in 1995, to deteriorate even further.

Violence broke out when police removed demonstrators blocking the Amistad Bridge, which links Paraguay with Brazil. Some peasantgroups Monday blocked a number of roads in Paraguay, as well as Asuncion's land access, and some 1,500 people demonstrated along the border with Argentina, paralyzing traffic on a border bridge.

Paraguay's last declaration of a state of emergency, which lasted 30 days, was on May 18, 2000, when there was a coup attempt.

Questions?Comments? Click here

How to View Major Problems in China's Income Distribution System ( 35 Messages)

Gang of 66 Criminals Get Heavy Sentences ( 3 Messages)

Sino-Russian Military Exercise not Targeting Third Country ( 58 Messages)

Shanghai Plans Asia's Biggest Shopping Center ( 124 Messages)

Taiwan to Lift Half-century Ban on Direct Investment in Mainland ( 2 Messages)

China's Economy Grew 7.8 Percent in First Half Year ( 3 Messages)