US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION1384

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 001384 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS TO USAID LAC/AA 
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN 
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD BARBARA MOORE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/07/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, KJUS, PA 
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: OVIEDO SUPPORTERS TAKE OVER ASUNCION 
PLAZA 
 
REF: ASUNCION 1173 
 
Classified By: PolOff Mark A. Stamilio, reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
1. (U) Summary: On 10/31, hundreds of supporters of 
imprisoned former general Lino Oviedo took up residence in a 
plaza in front of the Supreme Court building, in a well 
organized demonstration in support of Oviedo's petition for 
release from prison.  The demonstration has been peaceful so 
far, but has the potential to spark violence.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) Since his return to Paraguay from self-imposed exile 
in June 2004, Oviedo is serving a ten-year sentence for his 
role in a 1996 coup attempt.  He faces additional charges 
related to the March 1999 assassination of Vice President 
Luis Maria Argana and the subsequent deaths of several 
student protesters.  He is being held at the Vinas Cue 
military prison.  His lawyers challenge his conviction and 
sentence, which were imposed by a military tribunal, and 
demand his release. 
 
3. (U) The demonstration in front of the Supreme Court is 
well organized.  Organizers are providing food, drinks, 
plastic tarps for shelter, and portable toilets for the 
demonstrators.  The plaza is full of pro-Oviedo banners and 
T-shirts, and a loudspeaker system plays folk songs with 
lyrics about Oviedo.  Most of the demonstrators appear to be 
poor farm laborers.  A small number of demonstrators are 
staging a hunger strike. 
 
4. (SBU) Although the demonstrations have been peaceful so 
far, neighbors are displeased by the congregation.  Some 
politicians are calling on the city to evict the 
demonstrators from the plaza.  There is a heavy police 
presence.  The farm laborers appear to be bored, which could 
lead them either to grow weary and return to their homes in 
the countryside, or to create mischief that will force the 
city government to evict them.  If the latter occurs, sparks 
could fly. 
 
5. (C) According to two DAO sources, the demonstrators hope 
to provoke the government to act, thereby sparking an 
incident, and plan to remain in the plaza "as long as 
necessary."  One source alleged that the demonstrators have a 
cache of some 600 weapons at their disposal.  We have no 
independent verification of the allegation. 
 
6. (SBU) Comment: Oviedo and his supporters are keen to gain 
his release so he can reenter the political game in Paraguay 
and commence a bid for the 2008 Presidential race.  Duarte 
and his supporters are seeking votes in the Paraguayan Senate 
to support a motion to hold a Constituent Assembly that would 
consider allowing an incumbent President to run for 
reelection.  The votes of the five Senators from Oviedo's 
UNACE party are key.  The sticking point is what to do with 
Oviedo.  Oviedo wants charges dropped so he can run for 
President; it is unlikely Duarte's supporters will want to 
risk facing Oviedo in a political contest given Oviedo's 
renown as a political campaigner.  As Oviedo seeks to 
increase pressure on the government for a deal, there is some 
concern his supporters could provoke a violent confrontation 
with the government that would produce a backlash.  The 
government is sensitive to this risk.  It has stepped up the 
security presence around the demonstration and throughout the 
city.  However, neither the President nor the Mayor are keen 
at this point to appeal to judicial authorities for 
authorization to displace the protesters. 
JOHNSON