Paraguayan People's Army

Paraguayan People’s Army
(Ejército del Pueblo Paraguayo)

Founded	2005
Founding location	Horqueta
Years active	2005–present
Territory	Paraguay, mostly focused on Concepción, Canindeyú and San Pedro departments
Criminal activities	Bombings, Arson attacks, Assassinations, Kidnapping
Allies	FARC (Suspected)
Rivals	Government of Paraguay

The Paraguayan People’s Army (Spanish: Ejército del Pueblo Paraguayo or EPP) is a communist^[1] guerrilla movement that has staged a number of armed operations, including bombings, arson attacks, shootings and kidnappings as part of an organized insurgency. They operate in northern Paraguay, with most incidents occurring in Concepción Department, as well as the neighboring departments of Canindeyú and San Pedro. The EPP are believed to number just 50-80 members,^[2] though some estimate their strength at up to 100 members.

As of March 2012, the group was suspected of carrying out 27 separate operations, with more than half of them occurring after January 2011. These incidents resulted in the deaths of at least 16 people — 9 civilians and 7 police officers.^[3] By December 2013, the insurgency resulted in killing of at least 33 civilians and police officers,^[4] with an unknown number of killed EPP operatives.^[4] By early 2015 total casualties in the insurgency had surpassed 50, most of them being civilians and security forces.

Origins

The EPP began as an offshoot of another radical fringe group, the Free Homeland Party (Partido Patria Libre – PPL). After the PPL was taken apart by security forces in 2005, several members decided to form a new group with which to continue the armed struggle.^[5]

Timeline

Alcides Oviedo Brítez, current EPP leader.

By December 2013, the insurgency resulted in killing of at least 33 civilians and police officers,^[4] with an unknown number of killed EPP operatives. Two EPP operatives were killed in early April 2014, including the third in command in EPP; one Paraguayan soldier was also killed.^[6]

Political views

The EPP criticized the government of Fernando Lugo, saying that he represents the oligarchy, ignores the country's social problems and offers no real land reform. In 2012, the EPP declared war on Federico Franco's cabinet, describing the Impeachment of Fernando Lugo as a "white collar theft". The Paraguayan state describes the group as a terrorist organization.

Links with other organizations

It is known that at least one key FARC leader, Orley Jurado Palomino, has gone to Paraguay to provide training, advice and operational leadership to the insurgent group.^[7] It is also unclear if the EPP has ties with some major Brazilian drug trafficking organizations, like the First Capital Command (Primeiro Comando da Capital – PCC) and Red Command or Comando Vermelho which are known to have a significant presence in northern Paraguay.^[8]

Kidnappings

Along with armed raids, arson attacks and bombings, the group has also been accused of the kidnapping and murder of Cecilia Cubas, the daughter of former President of Paraguay Raúl Cubas Grau, as well as the abduction of Fidel Zavala, who was freed on January 17, 2010, after 94 days in captivity.^[3]

References