The Human Rights Actions Network
www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/
ACTION REQUEST
Derechos Human Rights requests your urgent intervention regarding this situation in Paraguay. Derechos has been informed by the Association of Families of Victims of the Military Service in Paraguay, that Milciades Ojeda, 16, is in critical condition after receiving numerous internal injuries and having his skull crushed. Miliciades was doing his military service at the time at the Third Army Corps in the city of Mariscal Estigarribia. According to the Army, on January 11th, Milciades fell off of a tractor; however the type of injuries he suffered suggests that he might have been the victim of abuse and/or torture. Ninety-four (94) conscripts have died while doing their military service in Paraguay since 1989. About half of them are underage; the youngest, Antonio Blanco, who was killed in 1997, was only 12-years old when he died. While military service is obligatory only for 18-year-old boys, younger boys are often forcefully recruited into the armed forces. NOTE: Milciades Ojeda died from his injuries on Jan. 16. A doctor who examined him determined that he did not have scratches on his skin or fractured bones, thus his injuries are inconsistent with the "official" version that Milciades fell off a tractor. This action is still urgent. REQUESTED ACTION Please write to the authorities of Paraguay, requesting -a thorough, independent, and impartial investigation into the "accident" suffered by Milciades Ojeda -a permanent end to the conscripting of minors into the armed forces. -that the Paraguayan Government take the necessary steps to abolish obligatory military service. Write to S.E. Don Nelson Argaņa Contrera National Defense Minister Fax(+595 21) 214 475 / (+595 21) 211 583 Diputada Sonia de Leon President of the Human Rights Commission Chamber of Deputies Fax(+595 21) 498 870 CC CODEHUPY Human Rights Coordinator of Paraguay Fax(+595 21) 214 047
