In a June 15 letter to the CLAI member churches in Paraguay, Secretary General Pastor Nilton Giese said that this confrontation is “a sad chapter in the history of the conflict over land rights in Canindevú,” and recalls that by a 2004 presidential decree the land that is the source of the conflict should have been destined for the agrarian reform underway in Paraguay.

“No violence of any kind is justifiable in the eyes of God. Thus, we wish to offer our solidarity to the victims of that conflict and pray to God for their consolation, and ask the authorities to investigate what happened and apply justice,” says Giese in his letter, and adds that “those conflicts can be avoided with the implementing of a true Agrarian Reform in those Guaraní lands.”  

For its part, the Paraguayan ecumenical body Committee of Churches for Emergency Assistance, through a statement circulated by the Secretary of the Río de la Plata Region of CLAI, Claudia Tron, has said that the “image being transmitted to the world is one of insecurity and total chaos in the country,” and called for the resignations of the public authorities responsible for allowing that the situation lead to bloodshed.

“Our hope continues in our almighty God. With faith we trust that our Paraguay will have its peace restored, along with its security and concord, and that situations of this kind that bring mourning to the families of the young patriots never occur again,” concludes the statement by the Committee of Churches for Emergency Assistance of Paraguay.

Photo: Landless farmers had occupied the property in Canindeyu, 240km north-east of Asuncion weeks ago (BBC News) 

See: Paraguay: Murder charges for farmers after land clash

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18474444