Paraguay could appeal Mercosur sanctions before the International Court of Justice
Paraguay is prepared to demand Mercosur co-members before the International Court of Justice at The Hague for what it describes as “violation of signed treaties” and sustained “international isolation” following the rejection of an appeal to have sanctions lifted.
The land-locked country and Mercosur junior member was suspended a month ago from Mercosur following the removal of Fernando Lugo as president and his replacement by Federico Franco as a consequence of a political impeachment which complied with the procedure contemplated in the country’s Constitution.
Mercosur not only suspended Paraguay until next year’s elections, April 2013, but in the same act approved the incorporation of Venezuela as full member of the group, a decision which had been frozen for several years because the Paraguayan Senate would not vote the annexation.
Paraguay later appealed the sanctions to the Mercosur Standing Review Tribunal which on Sunday announced, on a divided decision, there was no rise to the demand since the case the needed procedural instances for the presentation of controversy cases had not been complied. Paraguay described the ruling as “unacceptable”.
“It is perfectly possible and feasible” that the government presents its case before the International court of Justice said Paraguayan sources from the Foreign Ministry which rejected the resolution from the Mercosur Standing Review tribunal.
“We are considering demanding Mercosur both for suspending Paraguay and for incorporating Venezuela with out the consent from Paraguay”, added the sources which were reproduced in all the Asuncion media on Monday.
Allegedly the Paraguayan case could be based in the violation of the Ouro Preto Treaty ratified not so long ago by the four full members and which states that “no country can be sanctioned when one of the signatories in absent”.
Another argument in consideration are the statements from Uruguayan president Jose Mujica during the Mendoza Mercosur summit when he justified the decisions saying that sometimes “the political must prevail over the juridical”
However opinions at the Paraguayan Foreign ministry are not unanimous since it is also aware that the Mercosur suspension extends until April 2013, when the general elections are scheduled, and by that time the demand could be senseless if the case extends much longer.
According to the same reports discussions at the Review Tribunal were “heated” since the Uruguayan member was against sanctions to Paraguay. The tribunal is made up of two Brazilian delegates and one each for Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay.
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Wow, statements like that could create a dangerous presedence in Mercsour law. i.e. if as long as WE fell it is in the best ploitical intrest we can disregard the actual laws and do what we want. Mercscour really is becoming closer in its new members political ideals than I first thought.
Paraguay has a very strong case to put in front of the ICJ, Mercosur have disregarded and broken signed and ratified international agreements. The inclusion of Venezula is ilegal under Mercosur law. Be intresting to see what happends when the ICJ say just this and demand Venezula is removed. I see Paraguay leaving Mercosur and forming closer ties with Chile, Peru, EU and USA. The latters support they will probably obtained by allowing the US to build a milatry and air base in Paraguay along with insurnaces that they will defend Paraguay rights against its bully neighbours.
Bet he wouldn't stand for it if the opposition ignore all the laws of Uruguay.
I must admit this is so out of character from only 12 months ago that I am beginning to wonder if he is ill or in the first stages of dementia.
I always enjoy reading your windups! “democratic Venezuela” You do make me laugh. :)))
You see it is very easy to be reelcted when you control the majority of the media outlets in a country. Fine or shut down the media outlets which diagree with you, implement laws which allow you to fill the supreme court with your own supports, imprison judges who make decisions which are against your politcal ambitions. This is how Chavez controls Venezula. He is the poster boy for sociapaths.
If you dont believe me about the above please read the Human Rights Watch repoort released last week which details the human rights and freedom of speach violations being commited by Chavez and his government.
How can you call yourself left wing and support a country which is clearly taking steps to limit its citizens human rights? This would be akin to the conservative party of the UK owning the BBC, Channel 4, ITV and five and making sure that the labour party did not get any air time to critise the government. This is a scary thought I am sure you would agree and certianly not something I would wish to see.
www.hrw.org/reports/2012/07/17/tightening-grip-0
Which means the Chinese and Russians will surely pulverise US image international by pointing it out, the EU will receive heavy pressure from Mercosur and so they will come out and publicly pillory the US, and they will have all of Latin America up in arms because you can be sure Argentina (as it did with the Falklands), will be even MORE succesful in putting the US in a very bad position... and then the direct pressure of Brazil and Argentina.
There are absolutely no benefits to it, and at least a dozen geopolitical costs. Never gonna happen.
You're right, trouble on the horizon. If politicians or countries don't adhere to the law then they are on the road to oblivion. If Uruaguay does not follow the law it will be bad news. Argentina already dismisses self determination for falklanders which is central to the reason d'etre of the UN. It ignores its own constitution and now ignores its mercosur treaty. Bad things are going down in the latin quarter.
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