Access to Information In Paraguay

Cervantes Prize winning Paraguayan auther, Augusto Roa Bastos, called Paraguay an "island without a sea." This was in reference to the lack of knowledge there was and still is about Paraguay (produced in Paraguay). Through the dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner, there was implemented a culture of hostility towards intellectuals. This survives to this day and Paraguayan schools and universities are worse then universities of poor neighbor countries.

During the dictatorship there was only one book that talked about the socio/economic situation of the country. Any attempt to know the reality of life in Paraguay was seen as an action against the corrupt and brutal government. The only intellectuals that were not persecuted were those that were in service to the Stroessner regime.

There are two big universities in Paraguay. The most important is the National University (receives public money). This university was very influenced by the dictatorship and theColorado Party. The second university is the Catholic University. This university was not as influenced, but the Catholic Church was divided between those that served Stroessner and those against him. Even though the Catholic University had a conservative standing, it was still looked bad upon by the regime for being a not so biased form of information and knowledge.

Publications were closed and censured. Publications from universities virtually did not exist. Newspapers that dared to criticize the government were attacked and closed. Those that survived were friends of the status-quo.

One example of how the regime controlled knowledge was that it decided the highest national temperature. Overall there was a fictitious reality.

The Liberal Party

The Liberal Party was founded in 1880s to oppose Bernardino Caballero and the Colorado Party. The party won the presidency in 1904 and lost support thanks to the Chaco War. After that the Liberal Party never recovered and under Stroessner, it became illegal. It was mostly ineffective and inept in challenging the Colorado Party after and during the Stroessner regime.

Many members of the Liberal Party were imprisoned, tortured, killed or exiled from the country during the Stroessner dictatorship.

Out of the ashes of the Liberal Party rose what is currently Paraguay’s biggest opposition party, the Partido Liberal Radical Auténtico (PLRA). The PLRA finally won back power in 2008 thourgh its alliance with Fernando Lugo and other parties in the presidential election.

The PLRA is currently the second largest and popular political party in Paraguay. The current vicepresident, Federico Franco, belongs to the party.

Independence of Paraguay

The first permanent Spanish settlement in Paraguay was Asuncion (which was founded in 1537). Paraguay was dominated by the Jesuits who in their way tried to protect the indigenous people from Spanish brutality. They put the natives to work and converted them. This went on for about the next two hundred years after Asuncion was founded.

In 1776 Buenos Aires became independent and wanted Paraguay to be part of its kingdom. In 1810 Argentina asked Paraguay to declare independence alongside them but to also let them lead. Paraguay rejected Argentinian leadership.

After Paraguay declared independence (but did not accept being ruled by Argentina) Argentina sent an expedition to defeat and tame the Paraguayans. This expedition was decisively defeated.

In 1811 the last royal governors of Paraguay were ejected and Paraguay became a fully independent country. The Paraguayan Independence Day is August 15, 1811.

More sources:

Very Useful History of Paraguay Article

Brief history of South America shown on a Map

Miika Tenkula a Great Guitar Player

This entry will not be about the subject that I usually write about. But, I think that this person deserves some recognition and an entry in his honor.

Miika Tenkula was the lead guitarist for the Finish metal band Sentenced. Not only was he the main song composer for the band but he was also one of the main song writers.

Tenkula was a brilliant guitar player. The songs and melodies of Sentenced were usually about dark subjects in life and death and Tenkula was able to transmit that through his guitar.

Tenkula was found dead in his home on February 19 and the causes have still not been released. He was 34 years old. Sentenced had split up during late 2005.

The Finnish and world metal scene mourn the death of Miika Tenkula.

Video made to honor Miika Tenkula. The song (by Sentenced) is called Mourn.


Ever Frost by Sentenced

Paraguay is Bilingual

The Guarani language was originally spoken by the Guarani people that lived in most of the Paraguayan territory and parts of Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil.

The Guarani language is spoken by millions in Paraguay and also in (but in a much smaller percentage) in Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil. About two-thirds of Paraguay speaks it and there are all Guarani television shows and literature.

In Paraguay, thousands of people only know how to speak Guarani. This is usually in remote areas were the Guarani people were predominate. But Guarani is spoken everywhere in the country. It is even taught in schools but there is still not much emphasis on it.

The Guarani language is very important in Paraguay. It is one thing that sets the country apart and makes it special. It is also integrated into the culture (music, literature, humor, gastronomy, etc) of the country with thousands speaking a mixture of Spanish and Guarani. It is a beautiful and poetic sounding language that the country needs to treasure and encourage. Also, the people that first spoke Guarani need to be protected and valued.

In 1992 Guarani received official recognition as a state language. The language has come a long way from being seen a savage or primitive language.

Example of Guarani (a Guarani teacher speaking)

The Guarani

The Guarani were an important group of people that lived in Paraguay, parts of Argentina and parts of Brazil. They were semi-nomads so they never really built many structures. The guarani started settling in the area of Paraguay 5,000-3,000 years ago.

The Guarani were not very tall but were muscular. They had a rich culture of story telling, artesany, knowledge of medicine (especially herbal), hunting, warefare and some agriculture.

The first known contacts between the Spanish and the Guarani ocured in 1537 when Gonzalo de Mendoza came up the Paraguay River. He founded Asuncion which would become the capital of Paraguay. The Guarani were composed of many groups that never united to face the Spanish. They were easily conquered and also ravaged by disease (brought by the Spanish). The Guarani were enslaved by the Spanish and there was also a policy of intermarriage that was put in effect by the first governor of Asuncion. Like all over South and Central America, this is were the mestizos came from.

Currently the Guarani live in poverty and are spread around the country. Many times they have nothing else to live in but makeshift huts. They have lost most of their lands and sadly they have to go to the cities (especially Asuncion) to beg and sell their artesanal products. Drug addiction is high among them (especially in the city). The Guarani language is one of the treasures that these people have left for Paraguay and much of the country speaks it (and became the second official language of the country).

Images and information on the Guarani people

Jose Luis Chilavert

Jose Luis Chilavert was one of Paraguay’s greatest soccer players. Even though he played the goalie position he scored many important goals for the national team and for Velez Sarsfield (the club in Argentina were he played for a long time).

Chilavert was an expert free kicker and penalty kicker. Rivals would tremble when there was a foul and Chilavert would come running from the other end of the field to take the free or penalty kick. Chilavert is second for the goalie with the most goals in history. He also has the record for the only goal keeper to score a hat trick.

Chilavert was born in Luque, Paraguay in July 27, 1965. He made his debut in Sportivo Luqueño at fifteen years old. He moved on to Guarani, San Lorenzo (in Argentina), Real Zaragoza (in Spain), Velez Sarsfield (Argentina), Racing Club de Strasbourg (France) and Peñarol (Uruguay). Chilavert retired in 2004 playing for Velez Sarsfield, the team that he loved.

With the national team (the albirroja) Chilavert played the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. In 1995 and 1997 he was voted the world’s best goalkeeper.

The Velez Sarsfield, Chilavert won the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Club Cup in 1994. He also won the Argentinean league on many occasions.

Chilavert is also known for his strong personality and his involvement with politics. He once refused to shake hands with corrupt general Lino Oviedo. Chilavert has also had a long lasting feud with Argentinean idol, Diego Maradona.