MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguay: massive purge in security forces.

Paraguayan president Nicanor Duarte Frutos sacked Interior Minister, Nelson Mora, and at least 55 Police officers, the greatest security forces purge ever, in the framework of the investigation on the abduction and killing of a former president's daughter.

"Mora resigned early afternoon and I've named a new Interior Minister, Rogelio Benitez", said President Duarte Flores during a press conference. Mr. Benitez is a close political associate of President Duarte Flores and mayor of the city of Encarnación where apparently he has been quite successful in combating organized crime.

The sacked officers held the top jobs in the different Police Departments including the elite Anti kidnap Unit; Intelligence and Special Crimes. However the Commander of the Police Forces, Carlos Zelaya was confirmed in his post.

"Commander Zelaya continues as head of National Police but the whole of the 1975 promotion has been relieved of responsibilities", reported the president.

Since Mr. Duarte Frutos took office over a hundred security forces officers have been removed in an attempt to restore public opinion creditability and transparency.

The drastic decision was adopted following former president Raul Cubas claims of irregularities in the criminal investigation of the abduction and killing of his 32 year old daughter.

Former Minister Mora and General Prosecutor Oscar Latorre were involved in a public recrimination exchange about upholding information and alleged cover up operations. However Mr. Mora insists that the whole operation was a political extortive kidnap with the support from the powerful Colombian guerrilla, FARC.

"The Cecilia Cubas investigation was plagued with misconduct, informalities and filtration of reserved information", accused Mr. Latorre while another prosecutor Arnaldo Giuzzio claims the police officers who arrived to the house where the 148 days kidnap victim was found dead, "hid vital information" and deliberately spoiled the crime scene.

Cecilia Cubas was found last February 16 in an underground built room in a house in the outskirts of Asunción, Paraguay's capital. She was abducted last September 21.

On taking office the new Interior Minister Benitez said "this is a very complex office but with the help of the people and public opinion, together, we can improve this country's security conditions". The killing of Cecilia and public opinion outcry has triggered a political crisis which so far has led to a massive purge in the security forces cadres, something almost unthinkable in the still tender and delicate Paraguayan democracy.

It all started when last December, Deputy Police Chief Merardo Palacios from the town of Ñemby warned his superiors of "strange movements" in the house where Cecilia's rotting body was eventually found. However Palacios superiors ignored his claims and neighbours have now come out and revealed that there was "unusual movements" in the "house of terror", as the Paraguayan press has identified the place.

"We always suspected strange things were happening in that house because all the daily movements and night circulation of people who don't belong to the neighbourhood and they usually came around in expensive 4x4 vans. We told the Police several times but nothing happened and now we're scared because the kidnappers are at large", said Evelia Semiano who lived just across the street.

But the case has a further complication, an alleged Colombian connection.

This week Colombian president Alvaro Uribe publicly accused the FARC and one of its leaders recently abducted in Venezuela and delivered in Colombia, (which generated a diplomatic crisis between both neighbouring countries), of having masterminded the Ceclia Cubas kidnapping for ransom.

Apparently Colombian and Paraguayan security forces intercepted e-mails between the alleged kidnappers, a Paraguayan radical group and Mr. Rodrigo Granda identified as FARC's Foreign Affairs representative, and now under Colombian custody.

Mr. Granda was FARC's contact with European governments for a possible "humanitarian agreement" leading to the liberation of tens of Colombian civilians and security forces servicemen kidnapped and retained by the Colombian guerrilla. Mr. Granda apparently made his contacts in Caracas with the European embassies but was himself kidnapped by bounty hunters and delivered to Colombian authorities who are now considering his extradition to the United States.

Mr. Uribe strong attitude towards FARC and guerrilla's movements has the full financial and weapons support from the United States, while the Europeans prefer "humanitarian negotiations" to end the half century conflict.