About 60 unions, represented by their authorities, gave a press conference on Wednesday morning. The objective was to demonstrate their support for the bill “that modifies article 216 of Law 1,160/1997 of the Penal Code.” It is promoted by senators Enrique Riera, Enrique Bacchetta, Antonio Barrios, Georgia Arrúa and Stephan Rasmussen.
The project could be discussed today, Thursday, if it gathers the votes to be previously ruled in commissions.
“This is not a discussion about whether or not citizens have the right to protest, as some sectors self-interestedly suggest. It is a discussion about whether or not we are going to continue allowing a group of people to coerce the rest of Paraguayans, causing worse crises than the ones we already have,” Enrique Duarte, head of the Industrial Union of Paraguay, told a conference. (IPU).
Duarte stressed that it is not acceptable that some sectors, raising the banner of the right to demonstrate, ignore the constitutional guarantees of other citizens.
“Free transit, as well as all constitutional rights and guarantees, cannot be the subject of any discussion. We must all respect it on equal terms, ”he said.
Finally, he urged that the State not allow a negotiation on the right to move, to work and above all things, to live freely.
“Let’s be clear, let’s not allow the irrationality of some sectors to cloud our own judgment about what is happening here. We are in an economic situation strongly affected by exogenous factors; It is not the fault of the economic actors, society or the Government that the international prices of oil derivatives have risen lately”, he stated.
AYALA PERSON
Gloria Ayala Person, an economist, pointed out that the only solution to this problem is for citizens to unite to demand a strong State that does not allow itself to be extorted.
“From the private sector we are tremendously concerned. We support Enrique Riera’s bill,” he noted.
GALLI
Pedro Galli, president of the Rural Association of Paraguay (ARP), lamented the great damage caused by this group of people who believe that through extortion and blackmail they can obtain things.
“Due to the great drought that affects production, the international war and oil prices, the rights of third parties cannot be subjugated. It seems selfish and criminal to us,” he stated.
When asked about the questions that exist around Riera’s bill since it criminalizes social struggles, he pointed out that the spirit of the document is to exert a dissuasive effect to prevent these forceful measures from taking place.
“What we want is to clearly state our position that we are against the subjugation of other people’s rights under the pretext of a right. It is a contradiction and it is a measure that harms the entire business sector. It is a selfish measure ”, he sentenced.
