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6.
I asked how long the prisoners (a complete list of those still held is attached) would be held and whether I could have an assurance that they have not been and will not be ill-treated. In answer to these points Bestard said that the Minister of the Interior had given instructions to the police that the prisoners should be processed quickly, those against whom there is no evidence should be released immediately and the rest be brought before a judge without delay. Two priests of the Comité de las Iglesias would be allowed to see the prisoners tomorrow, May 19, to satisfy themselves that there has been no ill-treatment. We shall check that.
7.
You may wish to consider whether this latest example of recidivism by the Paraguayan Government and in view of the UNA involvement, merits the launching of a strong note of protest. I would certainly recommend that if the prisoners are not processed quickly and/or if the report from the Church Committee on the treatment of the prisoners is not satisfactory we deliver such a note.
8.
My US colleague has also been making representations and has been given similar assurances. The State Department spokesman was briefed to express concern and did so today (see cutting).
9.
I took the opportunity to raise 3 other human rights cases and one particular problem with Bestard. The 3 cases were:
Guillermo Escolastico Ovando who completed 15 years imprisonment in 1977 but has not been released
Antonio Maidana Ocampos former Secretary General of the Paraguayan Communist Party and
Emilio Roa Espinoza Secretary General of the Confe- deración Paraguaya de Trabajadores
all of whom have been the subject of representations by British HR Groups.
Both the latter have long been rumoured to have been returned to Paraguay in August 1980 after their arrest in Argentina but Bestard maintained the Government's deniel of any knowledge of the whereabouts of the two. In the case of Ovando, Bestard said that
he is currently suffering from leprosy has been transferred to a special sanatorium and when he has been cured will be released.
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/10.