MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Death of two Argentine minors causes diplomatic rift with Paraguay

Paraguay government said a confrontation in the country's north with members of the Paraguayan People's Army (EPP) had left at least two “rebels” dead.

Argentina has asked for an explanation from Paraguay about the deaths in a police and military operation against a terrorist group of two 11-year-old girls it said were Argentine citizens.

The Paraguayan government had said a confrontation in the country's north with members of the Paraguayan People's Army (EPP) had left at least two “rebels” dead.

The EPP, said to have been trained by Colombian FARC rebels and be active in marijuana-growing regions, has been accused of kidnappings and attacks in Paraguay over the past 10 years.

On Friday, Paraguay said those killed had been two teenage women, without giving their age or nationality.

The Argentine Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it had consulted the country's national registry, after receiving a request from Paraguay, and established that the deceased were both 11 years old and Argentine citizens.

Federico Gonzalez, an advisor to the Paraguayan presidency, told reporters that Paraguay's forensic report suggested the deceased were Paraguayan and older.

“The information we have is that these people were born in Paraguay and later transferred to Argentina, where they obtained these [identity] documents,” said Gonzalez.

He denounced the girls' parents, two notorious members of the EPP, for “sending their children into battle with the security forces”.

Argentina's Foreign Ministry said it was in touch with authorities in Paraguay, to clarify the circumstances of the deaths.

Gonzales said the EPP camp raided by the security forces had been occupied by some 14 people now being sought in the surrounding area, known as Yby Yau, about 370 km north of capital Asuncion.

The Paraguayan security operation brought criticism of conservative president Mario Abdo Benitez's government from the opposition and human rights organizations.

“Instead of offering forensic data and documentary evidence, the government of Mario Abdo rushed to bury the bodies of these girls before they had even been identified,” the country's main opposition parties said in a statement.

Paraguay's Human Rights Coordinator said the operation “bears all the hallmarks of a fresh state crime.”

The movement of people between the northern provinces of Argentina and Paraguay and Bolivia is very common, with most holding double nationality.