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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| Alfredo Stroessner Dies |
| 2006-08-16 |
| Paraguay's former military ruler Alfredo Stroessner has died aged 93 in a hospital in the Brazilian capital. General Stroessner had contracted pneumonia after an operation for a hernia on 29 July. Gen Stroessner, who led a military coup in 1954, had lived in exile in Brazil since being ousted in 1989. Paraguay had said earlier it would not pay tribute to him as he was a renegade from justice and was wanted for questioning over alleged rights abuses. Paraguayan judges had, on a number of occasions, requested the extradition of the former leader in connection with Operation Condor, a co-ordinated campaign carried out by South American military governments in the 1970s to quash their opponents. He squished the communists like insects and led Paraguay into decades of peace and prosperity. For this he was damned by liberals for making his country "boring". Though he may officially be condemned, a lot of Paraguayans remember him fondly. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #1 The Miami Herald one year had him as "BEST LATIN AMERICA DICTATOR" one year. As I remember his real vice was a fondness for young girls. He would have gotten along fine with Scott Ritter. Then there was the Stroessner joke, The Genral visited Argentina. When he was visiting the PM, Stroessner asked, " Argentina is such a poor country how can you afford such a lavish office?" The politico replied, "You see the bridge over the river?" The general replied, "Yes" The Argie said patting his wallet, "50%" Several years latter an indian from the boonies in Paraguay got an audience with General Stroessner. He is amazed by the lavish office and asks the general, "Since Paraguay is so poor how can he afford it." The General points to the Parana river and asks, "Do see the bridge?" The Indian says "NO" The genral then pats his wallet and says, "100!%" |
| Posted by: bruce 2006-08-16 18:26 |