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Paraguay: Protesters set fire to Congress after secret vote

Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 2:21 pm
by Nutso
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/04/p ... 42421.html
Protesters have stormed Paraguay's Congress building and set it on fire after a secret Senate vote to approve a bill that would allow President Horacio Cartes to run for another term.

Hundreds of people clashed with riot police in Asuncion on Friday and broke into Congress, battering down entrances and fences and shattering windows.
Opponents of the measure, who say it clears the way for dictatorships, said the vote was illegal.

"A coup has been carried out. We will resist and we invite the people to resist with us," said Senator Desiree Masi from the opposition Progressive Democratic Party.

Marching protesters were met by police wielding water hoses and firing rubber bullets and after nightfall, as the demonstrations grew more violent, police in riot gear responded by lobbing tear gas.

The president called for calm and a rejection of violence in a statement released on Twitter.

"Democracy is not conquered or defended with violence and you can be sure this government will continue to put its best effort into maintaining order in the republic," Cartes said.

Re: Paraguay: Protesters set fire to Congress after secret v

Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 12:26 am
by McAvoy
Well I can't blame them. Makes you wonder if Americans would do the same...