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Jun 29, 2004
Paraguay Arrests Leader of Failed Coup
By Adam Thomson in Buenos Aires
Paraguayan security forces on Tuesday arrested Lino Oviedo after the popular former general and leader of a failed military coup returned to the country from exile.
Mr Oviedo, who has aspirations to lead the country, fled in 1999 to Brazil. He faces a 10-year prison sentence for staging an attempted military coup in 1996, which failed to overthrow Juan Carlos Wasmosys administration.
He is also accused of involvement in the assassination of Luis Mara Argana, the countrys then vice- president, in 1999, and of seven anti-Oviedo demonstrators in March of the same year.
Many believe Mr Oviedos decision to return marks the first step in a challenge to become president in 2008. "Oviedo is very ambitious," said a diplomat in Asunción yesterday. "He is certainly not coming back to tend his garden or write his memoirs."
Mr Oviedo insists the charges against him are the result of a political conspiracy. He told journalists recently that he intended to go back to his native country to clear his name and that he would go armed only with "a crucifix, a pencil and a small notebook. They have always helped me."
President Nicanor Duarte Frutos' administration, which took power less than a year ago, is taking Mr Oviedos return seriously. The general was expected to be escorted to a military prison 10km from the capital. From there it is thought he will be taken to Lagerenza, a remote military outpost close to the border with Bolivia, to make contact with his supporters more difficult.
Political analysts in Asunción yesterday agreed that Mr Oviedo continued to exert significant influence among Paraguays poor and mainly rural population.
"There is a widely-held view that 15 years of democracy have failed to improve peoples livelihoods," said Francisco Capli of First Analisis y Estudios.
"For many people, Oviedo represents the strong, authoritarian style of lead- ership that this country was so accustomed to in the past."
Indeed, with crime levels rising and with public concern centred on a recent wave of kidnappings, some believe that Mr Oviedo has timed his return to perfection.
Pablo Herken, an economist in Asunción, says the former military leaders arrival will undoubtedly be an important boost for Mr Oviedos Unace political movement, a branch of the ruling Colorado party. That, in turn, could prompt the opposition Liberal party to look to form an alliance as its only hope of obtaining power.
However, Mr Herken dismisses the idea that Mr Oviedos presence could jeopardise the current administration. "Paraguay is not Bolivia," he said. "There are important social pressures here but President Duarte Frutos commands high levels of popularity and it would be a mistake to see [Oviedos return] as a threat to stability."
[Source: Financial Times. Published: June 29 2004 22:17]
[Editor's Note: As Ive commented in past articles, this man is dangerous & warrants careful handling. Our President, Dr. Nicanor Duarte, once told me that immediately after Vice-President Arganas assassination, Duarte & his family were high on Oviedos "hit" list. As a result, his family had to go into hiding for awhile.]
* This article may be freely reprinted provided it is used in its entirety without modification and includes the following sentence:
Article reprinted from Pryors of Paraguay [http://pryors.net/] - Gods Work in Gods Way! The Pryors are missionaries to Paraguay, South America who are purposed to pursue the Biblical plan for missions and prove that New Testament principles still work today.
Posted by David Pryor in In The News, Paraguay | Permalink
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