The Bicentenary of Paraguay

py'a guapy oikovéva (Peace to Paraguay)

Alfredo Fernández. Periodista.
Carta de la Paz dirigida a la ONU

A new country, a new culture, a new society is celebrating the bicentenary of its independence. The Republic of Paraguay prepares itself for some well-deserved festivities.

Two centuries ago a group of soldiers and patriots opposed foreign domination. And, as Argentina had done a year before, Paraguay also fought for freedom, taking advantage of Spain’s fragility after the Napoleonic invasion.

Asunción in Paraguay, capital of South American colonization, was home to Creoles who were prepared to govern themselves. Today historians remember the people who made up the handful of brave men and women who were determined to be free and who freed Paraguay on the night of 14th and 15th May 1811.

Today by remembering the bicentenary of the Republic of Paraguay we also share a space with indigenous people, the legitimate ancestors and the driving force behind the colonization of the territory and of establishing official status for the Guarani language, thereby making this a bilingual state.

Over these 200 years of history Paraguay has been through moments of tension and war, especially with neighbouring countries Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil. However, today we can affirm that this section of the American continent experiences moments of peace that their patriots surely dreamed of. A true and fertile dialogue between nations has also been established.

MERCOSUR is an example of an integration project that goes way beyond economical objectives, and is a path that merits continued support. I recall a speech made by President of Brazil, Lula da Silva at a MERCOSUR summit: “We do not want war, if anyone wants to experience a peaceful place then tell them to come to South America”. He added, “South America and Mercosur are an example of how the world could live in peace, without nuclear arms, without war and much more harmoniously.