A full fledged anti-Jewish drive was launched this week in Paraguay by the official government newspaper El Baraguayo with publication of a series of violent anti-Semitic articles.
The most recent article of the series declares that “Jewish infiltration constitutes a serious danger to Paraguay.” It asserts that “the religious freedom guaranteed by the constitution does not apply to races such as the Jewish whose ideologies are openly opposed to our national feelings.” The article also voices the sort of anti-Jewish allegations published in Nazi newspapers. “Jews born here aren’t Paraguayans but Jews,” the article concludes.
There are only 1,800 Jews in Paraguay, leading observers here who are familiar with the political situation there to conclude that the outbursts against the Jews are an attempt by the government to divert public pressure against the present administration which is strongly anti-democratic. Reports from Asuncion, the Paraguayan capital, disclose that there have been several anti-government demonstrations in recent weeks demanding a reshuffle of the cabinet to include democratic elements. Widespread strikes which broke out in February are said to be continuing.
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