AMERICA/PARAGUAY - Mgr. Medina: "Justice must only acknowledge the truth of the Curuguaty massacre",

Asuncion (Agenzia Fides) - The Bishop of San Juan Bautista de las Misiones (Paraguay), His Exc. Mgr. Mario Melanio Medina Salinas, accused Vice President Federico Franco of being responsible for the "massacre of Curuguaty".
The Bishop said the tragedy, which occurred on June 15, 2012 in which 11 farmers and six policemen were killed in a shootout, was a "fabrication" to elect Franco as President.
During a meeting with journalists in the premises of the Episcopal Conference of Paraguay (CEP) of Asuncion, Mgr. Medina said that "justice has a great responsibility in the face of the Curuguaty case, because on the one hand, there are those who put pressure, and on the other, there is the truth, and one should recognize the truth".
On 15 June 2012, 17 people were killed, 11 farmers and six policemen, who were trying to evict the farmers who had taken possession of the lands in Marina Cué. The farmers claimed that the land belonged to the State and had to be assigned to them, while the Campos Morumbi society, of late Senator Blas Riquelme, claimed it its property. After the massacre, the Congress accused President Fernando Lugo, deposed from his post a few days later, to promote the invasions of land. (See Fides 26/11/2012)
After four years, the prosecutor a few days ago, reformulated the charges against farmers: illegal association, abuse of private property and manslaughter, when in 2012 they were only charged with attempted murder.
Mgr. Medina Salinas recalling that there were only 300 policemen and 60 farmers, including women and children, said: "It is a disgrace! They want to condemn them at all costs! It was a crime against them and now they are on trial. I ask the judges to carry out a fair trial!", he concluded. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 23/06/2016)

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