TNAG-1276-FCO40-1626-Resettlement-of-Vietnamese-refugees-from-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 195

ORIZATIONS

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PARAGUAY

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Paraguay traditionally has been governed by autocratic regimes, and its history has been marked by wars, insurrections, and coups. The country has been ruled under the state of siege provisions of the Constitution almost continuously since 1929. President Alfredo Stroessner, an army general, has governed Paraguay since 1954 under these provisions and there has been no effective challenge to his authority. His rule, based on the support of the military and exercised through the Colorado Party, has brought tranquility, stability, and economic growth to Paraguay, but at a considerable cost to political rights and individual liberties. Major violations of the integrity of the individual have decreased since the mid-1970's. were increased detentions and no improvement in the areas of

However, there political rights and individual liberties in 1982.

Nominally democratic elections for the presidency and the national legislature are held every five years but, in practice, political power is concentrated in the executive branch, the military, and the Colorado Party, with little effective opposition participation or influence permitted. Three opposition parties are recognized by the Government and allowed to present candidates for national and local office. On the basis of a formula which grants the winning party two-thirds of the seats, the two opposition parties that chose to participate in the 1978 elections shared the remaining one-third of the seats in the national legislature.

Paraguay has enjoyed rapid economic growth in recent years, with a quadrupling of the per capita gross national product during the last decade to $1,342 in 1980. economy has fallen victim to the current worldwide recession. More recently, the While most elements of the population benefitted in absolute terms from the economic growth, income disparities have increased. This has been true particularly in the past year as the deteriorating world economic situation, in addition to the negative regional and national economic developments, sharply curtailed Paraguay's economic expansion. Paraguay's stable

government, conservative fiscal and monetary policies and laissez-faire approach to trade and investment have encouraged some private investment, but the absence of a formal government policy to spur private investment has contributed to the rapid expansion of state-owned enterprises. The Government continues its land distribution program which has benefitted perhaps one sixth of the nation's population.

The human rights safeguards in the Paraguayan Constitution frequently are not fully upheld. The judiciary, while formally independent, does not serve as an effective check on actions of the executive. Constitutional guarantees such as protection of the integrity of the individual, the need for judicial warrants, freedom of assembly and association, the right of habeas corpus and a prompt and fair trial for the accused often are ignored by government officials. While the state of siege is legally in force only in the capital, security officials operate as though it existed throughout the country.

Only members in good standing of the dominant Colorado Party can participate fully in the political process. Affiliation with the Colorado Party is often a prerequisite for government employment and significant participation in Paraguay's economic activity.

Paraguay does not have an independent trade union movement. The existing labor federation is controlled by the Government.

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