Noticias

The prosecution sentenced the peasants from 5 to 40 years in prison, meanwhile defense lawyers had asked the trial court the acquittal of all defendants.
 
We, as a grassroots organization which brings together historically oppressed groups, clearly recognize the repressive role of the Paraguayan state and power groups that disregard and resist any attempt towards the creation of a genuine rule of law, established in our National Constitution.
 
The terrible and dire deficiencies that have violated the right to due process in this case, presented a scenario in which all citizens are victims of repressive state power, stating a clear intention to criminalize public protests, aiming to consolidate an authoritarian and repressive model that violates all human rights guarantees.
 
We recall that in 1959, 108 Paraguayans were persecuted by the Paraguayan State, arbitrarily detained and their rights violated without any guarantee. These people saw their lives destroyed, lost their jobs and were charged with untold social embarrassment. In 2000 that number was eliminated by decree of all licensed plates perpetuating the silence of the Paraguayan State on the matter to forget this and other violations of the rights of citizenship.
 
From SOMOSGAY we believe in a Paraguay without exclusions and we also believe that full equality is within our reach. We are now stronger than ever in our commitment to walk towards a just country and it is with this conviction that we demand the acquittal and freedom of Rubén Villalba, Luis Olmedo Paredes, Arnaldo Quintana, Nestor Castro, Lucía Agüero Maria Fany Olmedo, Dolores Lopez, Juan Carlos Tillería, Alcides Ramirez, Adalberto Castro and Felipe Benitez Balmori.
 
It is clear to us and we think this is the time to build solidarity towards a better, more inclusive country which guarantees rights for everyone.
 
The voices crying out for justice, equality and freedom will not be silent.