National Peasant Federation Plans Agrarian Reform March in Asunción

The National Peasant Federation is set to march in Asunción to demand agrarian reform, access to land, and protection against evictions. Led by Marcial Gómez, the protest targets the influence of the pro-government faction and highlights the ongoing tensions with President Peña’s administration, emphasizing the need for better support for rural development.

On Thursday, Paraguay’s National Peasant Federation (FNC) will conduct its annual march in Asunción, advocating for land access, an end to evictions, and support for rural development policies. Peasants from twelve of Paraguay’s seventeen departments, including San Pedro and Caaguazú, gathered on Wednesday to prepare.

Led by Secretary-General Marcial Gómez, the FNC protests land issues and challenges the influence of the pro-government Honor Colorado faction, spearheaded by former president Horacio Cartes. Their demands encompass agrarian reform and the cessation of evictions affecting peasant and indigenous communities. Gómez emphasized the need to enhance national development through food production and primary industry growth.

The demonstration follows a prior two-day protest in Asunción under the theme “for land and production, against all injustices.” Farmers encountered challenges, such as police checkpoints resulting in the detention of buses, although the group was eventually released after staging a roadblock.

The march will traverse central Asunción, culminating with a manifesto reading at Plaza de la Democracia. This event underscores the strife with President Santiago Peña’s administration, with critics highlighting insufficient government dialogue with popular sectors, including voices like Ermo Rodríguez.

This will mark the 31st annual march demanding the implementation of an Agrarian Reform Law as specified in the Constitution, aimed at improving land distribution and supporting small-scale food production necessary for Paraguay’s food sovereignty.

The upcoming march organized by Paraguay’s National Peasant Federation serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing plight for agrarian reform and rural development in the country. The grievances against the government’s lack of communication with agricultural workers underscore the urgency for meaningful dialogue and policy change. This protest continues a long-standing tradition, emphasizing the need for a legal framework to ensure fair land distribution and support for local food production.

Original Source: en.mercopress.com