At length, a major split in the stronista establishment came to light in the September '84 'partisan convention', between militants (former Guionistas) loyal to Stroessner and the traditionalists (former Chavistas) who sought more open policies, pushed mainly by their young 'ethical' wing (Angel R. Seifart and others). In the August '87 'convention', the Militants seized the Party apparatus, thus wiping out the remaining outward forms of Colorado representation. It was a previsionary step by the Militants in order to succeed Stroessner with no competition. Humberto Dominguez Dibb, brother of Osvaldo, today's La Nacion owner, was then one of the leaders of the internal civil resistance. Naturally, because of the command structure, the military movement had centered around First Army Commander Gen. Andres Rodriguez, a legitimist soldier in 1947. Then, our past took on burning actuality ... Not without reason, nor by chance, the explosion was to come -like in June '46- from the First Cavalry Division, seat of the First Army Corps. The movement itself didn't identified with the Traditionalists in particular as some biased sources tryed to make us believe. Obviously before striking, tactically, it had to have their endorsement, as well as ours, in order to secure success. Those skeptics of the revolutionaries' commitment to democracy, possibly not even knowing much concerning Paraguay's long social struggle, must in the first place recall that, as elementary principle, historic events don't come about because of individuals' isolated will, but as the result of objective conditions and communities' needs expressed through them, the leaders. Moreover, contrary to the colonialist foundation of "the natives' unredeemable existance in societies lacking in values" -yet amazingly conditioning today's journalists, 'intellectuals' and others- we, above all as Christians believe in the human capability for redemption. Some key factors leading us to the daybreak of Feb 3, 1989, were: -Ties of the regime with the US strained beginning with Jimmy Carter. -The international isolation of Stroessner that began in the Plata Region with the restoration of democracy in Argentina (Dec '83). -The Roman Catholic Church stand, openly involved in social change since 1968. -The 70s boom was over. Paraguay's artificially inflated economy started declining after the completion of gigantic brazilian-paraguayan Itaipu Dam in 1982. However a new class was born: 'the Itaipu Barons'. -The ceaseless and epic paraguayan resistance since early 1956. -The inherently legitimist new Armed Forces born in 1947, that despite stronismo -over the years- became more professionalized as an institution. Therefore it's no longer easily manipulated. (27) -Today's paraguayan officers (most already retired): Vice Admiral Eduardo Gonzalez Petit, Gen. Lino Cesar Oviedo, Gen. Regis A. Romero, Gen. Pedro Concepcion Ocampos, Gen. Mario Escobar Anzoategui, Gen. Eumelio Bernal, Gen. Victor Aguilera, Gen. Jose F. Segovia Boltes, Gen. Sindulfo Ruiz Ramirez, Gen. Victor Segovia Rios, Gen. Jose Cespedes Zarza, Gen. Oscar Diaz Delmas, Gen. Marino Gonzalez Caceres, Gen. Jorge Mendoza, Gen. Evelio Benitez, Capt. Juan Franco Zarate, Capt. Alfredo Florencianez and other heroic protagonists on Feb 2/3 1989, are brilliant exponents of the Colorados' revolution back to its origins. |
| AGAIN, APROACHING DAWN |
| FEBRUARY 3, 1989: OUR COMEBACK Breaking down the 'War Front' |