Top UK signatories slam Paraguay “coup”


by Newswire    
5:37 pm - June 26th 2012

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A group of writers, MPs and activists today publish a letter slamming the “political coup” in Paraguay.

The letter is exclusively published here.

We join the governments of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador & the Dominican Republic in condemning the removal of the elected President Lugo in Paraguay, in a process that has been described widely as a “political coup.”

President Lugo has labelled his removal as a blow against Paraguay’s democracy & although accepting he is currently now out of office has termed it an “express coup d’etat.”

President Lugo was given just 24 hours to prepare a defence against an impeachment instituted by a temporary right-wing majority in parliament, using procedures the Lugo government has previously declared illegal & unconstitutional.

There have also been reports of human rights abuses from the new regime. For example, activists in the CUT-A (Paraguayan union federation) are reporting that the military have fired live rounds at unarmed protesters & campesino leaders have reported activists killed. Currently tens of thousands of Paraguayans are protesting outside the Parliament for the return of Lugo. They have established a Front for the Defence of Democracy.

The progressive wave of recent years in Latin America has many powerful enemies, both from former ruling elites internally & right-wing forces internationally. International support is vital so that democratic & social advances continue.

Yours,

FULL LIST OF SIGNATORIES:
Eric Hobsbawm, Historian
Richard Gott
Hugh O’Shaughnessy, author: The Priest of Paraguay
Peter Lambert, Senior Lecturer in Spanish & Latin American Studies, University of Bath
Ken Livingstone
Colin Burgon, Venezuela Solidarity Campaign & Labour Friends of Venezuela
Grahame Morris MP
Valerie Vaz MP
Jeremy Corbyn MP
John McDonnell MP
Mike Wood MP
Baroness Anne Gibson, All Party Parliamentary Group on Latin America
Neil Findlay MSP
Frances O’Grady, TUC Deputy General Secretary
Tony Burke, Assistant General Secretary, Unite the Union
The GMB / Bert Schouwenburg, GMB International Officer
Billy Hayes, CWU General Secretary
Matt Wrack, FBU General Secretary
Manuel Cortes, TSSA General Secretary
Steve Murphy, UCATT General Secretary
Gerry Morrissey, BECTU General Secretary
Jonathan Ledger, NAPO General Secretary
Doug Nicholls, General Federation of Trade Unions General Secretary
Terry Hoad, Immediate Past President, University & College Union
Jody McIntyre, journalist
Kanje Sesay, National Union of Students Black Students’ Officer
Aaron Kiely, National Union of Students NEC & Black Students’ Officer (elect)
Lindsey German, Stop the War Coalition Convenor
Maggie Bowden, General Secretary, Liberation
Ernesto Laclau
Dr Francisco Dominguez, Centre for Brazilian & Latin American Studies, Middlesex University
Doreen Massey, Professor of Geography
Peter Hallward, Professor of Modern European Philosophy, Kingston University
Dr Steve Ludlam, University of Sheffield
Professor Mike Cole
Marcos Costa Lima, Profº. of the Political Science Department of UFPE
Jenny Pearce, University of Bradford
Dr Michael Derham, Northumbria University
Dr Lee Salter, University of the West of Engl&
Dr Diana Raby, Senior Fellow, Latin American Studies, University of Liverpool & Professor Emeritus, History, University of Toronto
Jonathan Rosenhead, London School of Economics
Iain Bruce, journalist
Grace Livingstone, Author, America’s Backyard
Mike Gatehouse
Rod Stoneman, Executive Producer, The Revolution will Not Be Televised
Pablo Navarrete, journalist & documentary filmmaker
Cat Smith, Chair, Next Generation Labour (pc)
Lucy Anderson, Labour Party National Policy Forum
Cllr. Samuel Tarry, Barking & Dagenham Council Chief Whip
Steve Hart, Unite the Union Political Director
Cllr Vince Maple, Labour Group Leader, Medway Council
John Haylett, Morning Star Political Editor
Jim Kennedy, Labour Party NEC (pc)
Denise Christie, FBU Women’s Committee
Ruby Cox, Chair of the Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign & as Chair of Unison’s Greater London Region International Committee
Jackson Cullinane, Political Officer, Unite Scotl&
David Winters, Croydon NUT & VSC TU delegation to Venezuelan 2012 member
Paul Foley, Head of Health, UNISON North West (pc)
Richard Ascough
Carl Maden, CWU NEC
Cllr Tom Beattie, Unite the Union
Kevin Flack, Chair Sevenoaks Constituency Labour Party
Phil McGarry, RMT Scotland & Scottish VSC
Matt Willgress, VSC Co-ordinator

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Reader comments


1. Tris

Just out of interest, why are these people “top”?

2. BenSix

They’ve signed the most petitions.

Jests aside, this sounds intriguing. Does anyone know who or what would be useful to read for the background?


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. gareth ondrak

    RT @libcon: Top UK signatories slam Paraguay "coup" http://t.co/OiDfkZz3

  2. Ian Clark

    Large group of British MPs, writers, trade unionists & activists condemn "political coup" in Paraguay http://t.co/T14YEntD

  3. Martin Shovel

    RT @sunny_hundal: Large group of British MPs, writers, trade unionists & activists condemn "political coup" in Paraguay http://t.co/s85VptIe

  4. leftlinks

    Liberal Conspiracy – Top UK signatories slam Paraguay “coup” http://t.co/tYqfITk9

  5. BevR

    Large group of British MPs, writers, trade unionists & activists condemn "political coup" in Paraguay http://t.co/T14YEntD

  6. BevR

    Top UK signatories slam Paraguay "coup" http://t.co/LImJ0GRN

  7. Derrick O'Keefe

    RT @sunny_hundal: UK MPs, writers, trade unionists & activists condemn "political coup" in Paraguay http://t.co/LNgr8IRM @justin_ling

  8. kolekili

    RT @sunny_hundal: UK MPs, writers, trade unionists & activists condemn "political coup" in Paraguay http://t.co/LNgr8IRM @justin_ling

  9. Yvonne Parmenter

    Top UK signatories slam Paraguay “coup” | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/qsJ4rnfq via @libcon

  10. Robert CP

    Top UK signatories slam Paraguay "coup" http://t.co/LImJ0GRN

  11. Ray Sirotkin

    '@TonyBurke2010 from @unitetheunion, @billyhayes_cwu @manuel_tssa @kanjasesay @Aaron_Kiely also condemn Paraguay coup http://t.co/LXAQyp8h

  12. Ben Folley

    '@cateysmith joins @ken4london @grahamemorris @jeremycorbyn @ValerieVazMP amongst those condemning Paraguay coup http://t.co/LXAQyp8h

  13. Adriana Rosenzvaig

    @UNI_PM @arosenzvaig: Top UK signatories slam Paraguay "coup" http://t.co/GmFqnCyN

  14. Aaron Kiely

    '@TonyBurke2010 from @unitetheunion, @billyhayes_cwu @manuel_tssa @kanjasesay @Aaron_Kiely also condemn Paraguay coup http://t.co/LXAQyp8h

  15. VSC

    Top UK signatories slam Paraguay “coup” | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/p6cm3JW4 via @libcon

  16. Derek Wall

    Top UK signatories slam Paraguay “coup” | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/p6cm3JW4 via @libcon

  17. Jody McIntyre

    Statement condemning coup in Paraguay signed by Ken Livingstone, @pablonav1, myself and many more – http://t.co/Utn6r5u8

  18. Paul Rogers

    Top UK signatories slam Paraguay “coup” | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/p6cm3JW4 via @libcon

  19. SofiaE3

    Statement condemning coup in Paraguay signed by Ken Livingstone, @pablonav1, myself and many more – http://t.co/Utn6r5u8

  20. Amy Wyatt

    Statement condemning coup in Paraguay signed by Ken Livingstone, @pablonav1, myself and many more – http://t.co/Utn6r5u8

  21. Lindsey German

    Pls RT and add your name against coup Top UK signatories slam Paraguay “coup” | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/jIg0iUT8 via @libcon

  22. Matthew Houlihan

    Pls RT and add your name against coup Top UK signatories slam Paraguay “coup” | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/jIg0iUT8 via @libcon

  23. constance fleuriot

    Top UK signatories slam Paraguay “coup” | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/uBe2dygy via @libcon

  24. Sam Asumadu

    Statement condemning coup in Paraguay signed by Ken Livingstone, @pablonav1, myself and many more – http://t.co/Utn6r5u8

  25. Sussex LRC

    Top UK signatories slam Paraguay "coup" http://t.co/LImJ0GRN

  26. Notts Stop the War

    Pls RT and add your name against coup Top UK signatories slam Paraguay “coup” | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/jIg0iUT8 via @libcon

  27. Nick Pearce, IPPR

    'Political coup' in #Paraguay: latest attempt to turn the progressive tide in #LatinAmerica – UK voices of protest http://t.co/lNsbfPAe

  28. Tim Swain

    'Political coup' in #Paraguay: latest attempt to turn the progressive tide in #LatinAmerica – UK voices of protest http://t.co/lNsbfPAe

  29. Tony Burke

    'Political coup' in #Paraguay: latest attempt to turn the progressive tide in #LatinAmerica – UK voices of protest http://t.co/lNsbfPAe

  30. Josu Mnez De Arriaga

    'Political coup' in #Paraguay: latest attempt to turn the progressive tide in #LatinAmerica – UK voices of protest http://t.co/lNsbfPAe

  31. Liam

    'Political coup' in #Paraguay: latest attempt to turn the progressive tide in #LatinAmerica – UK voices of protest http://t.co/lNsbfPAe

  32. Ali R?za Ta?kale

    Eric Hobsbawm, Doreen Massey & Ernesto Laclau'nun aralarinda bulundugu bir grup Paraguay'daki "siyasal darbe"yi kinamis http://t.co/JYhbGHVA

  33. Steve Wade

    'Political coup' in #Paraguay: latest attempt to turn the progressive tide in #LatinAmerica – UK voices of protest http://t.co/lNsbfPAe

  34. DPWF

    'Political coup' in #Paraguay: latest attempt to turn the progressive tide in #LatinAmerica – UK voices of protest http://t.co/lNsbfPAe

  35. MRZine

    Statement Condemning #Paraguay #Coup, Signed by @jodymcintyre, @pablonav1, et al: http://t.co/rsCOMj5Q

  36. Susan Michie

    'Political coup' in #Paraguay: latest attempt to turn the progressive tide in #LatinAmerica – UK voices of protest http://t.co/lNsbfPAe

  37. güne?li pazartesiler

    Eric Hobsbawm, Doreen Massey & Ernesto Laclau'nun aralarinda bulundugu bir grup Paraguay'daki "siyasal darbe"yi kinamis http://t.co/JYhbGHVA

  38. felix

    Eric Hobsbawm, Doreen Massey & Ernesto Laclau'nun aralarinda bulundugu bir grup Paraguay'daki "siyasal darbe"yi kinamis http://t.co/JYhbGHVA

  39. Kunta Kinte

    Eric Hobsbawm, Doreen Massey & Ernesto Laclau'nun aralarinda bulundugu bir grup Paraguay'daki "siyasal darbe"yi kinamis http://t.co/JYhbGHVA

  40. Miles Curtis Watson

    'Political coup' in #Paraguay: latest attempt to turn the progressive tide in #LatinAmerica – UK voices of protest http://t.co/lNsbfPAe

  41. earwulf

    'Political coup' in #Paraguay: latest attempt to turn the progressive tide in #LatinAmerica – UK voices of protest http://t.co/lNsbfPAe





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