Paraguayan lawmakers accuse Brazil of ‘provocative military intimidation’

Monday, November 21st 2011 - 09:56 UTC

Full article 7 comments

Paraguayan members from the Mercosur Parliament, Parlasur made a public statement to complain the ‘intimidating Brazilian military display’ with armoured vehicles and heavy equipment along the border particularly across from the Ciudad del Este which is ‘contrary to international agreements and the Mercosur spirit’. Read full article

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Uncle Sam
ALL:
Will someone please explain to me what this is all about?
Nov 22nd, 2011 - 05:31 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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GeoffWard2
I think, Sam, the key is in the final para:

”Ciudad del Este in a border city (in Paraguay) which effectively lives from retailing - most of which ends up smuggled into neighbouring Brazil including drugs and arms.
Ahead of the 2014 World Cup, Brazil is not only cleaning the slums of Rio of drugs and organized crime, but is also cutting what it believes is one of the main sources of illegal arms and drugs.”

The local Paraguayans - and the facilitators in the Paraguayan bureaucracy - are getting upset at the restriction this Brasilian border presence places on their (illegal) income-flow.

Their complaint to Parlasur may be a bit disingenuous, but historically they were once militarily thrashed by the other Mercosur member states so they may be a little bit genuinely paranoid.
Nov 22nd, 2011 - 07:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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Uncle Sam
re: GeoffWard2:
Thank you Professor, this is very elightening.R ather like the southern boarder of the US.
Nov 22nd, 2011 - 10:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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GeoffWard2
Thanks Sam,
you've lead me to some detailed reading of the Mexico-American war of the mid-1800s.
It's a lot more complicated than the Davey Crockett film I enjoyed as a youngster (wearing my coon-skin hat like the other boys in the 3 penny Saturday matinee).
. . . memories.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican%E2%80%93American_War
Nov 23rd, 2011 - 10:52 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Uncle Sam
re: Geoff
Actually Professor,I was referring to the problems on our southern border, today. However, you prompted me to also revisit the Mexican War, and I'm glad you did. There is a lot that I had forgotten about that conflict.
Yes, and Davey Crockett Movies and coonskin caps. We must be of the same generation! However, I didn't realize that craze had invaded GB.
Thanks for bringing some memories flooding back.
Kind regards.
Nov 24th, 2011 - 04:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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Forgetit87
Time and again Brazil's military marches close to the Paraguayan border. This has happened repeatedly throughout the last decade, and thus this can't be all about preparations for the Cup.
Nov 25th, 2011 - 09:21 am - Link - Report abuse 0
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xbarilox
I've been there six times since I was a kid and there have been soldiers walking around the city all the time, and lots of strange people. This is not new in Ciudad del Este, so what's the fuss all about? The Paraguayan government is always moaning.
Nov 25th, 2011 - 04:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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