Partido Patria Libre

Infobox_Political_Party
party_name = Partido Patria Libre
colorcode = #013068
party_
leader =
foundation = 1990
ideology = Marxism-Leninism
headquarters = Asunción
international =Foro de São Paulo
website=

Partido Patria Libre (roughly translated "Free Homeland Party" or "Free Fatherland Party") is a Paraguayan political party. It defines its goals as "Marxist, patriotic, and anti-imperialist."

History

PPL was founded by former activists of the Popular Democratic Movement (MDP) on February 3, 1990, under the name "Corriente Patria Libre" ("Free Homeland Current"). In February 1992, it was renamed "Movimiento Patria Libre" ("Free Homeland Movement"). It acquired its current name in December 2002 after the movement was officially registered as a political party.

PPL has strong roots in the movement for left regroupment. It leads the United Left (IU) alliance, which also includes the Workers' Party (PT), the Socialist Revolutionary Nucleus (NRS), the April 19 Indigenous Movement (M-19 Abril), and the Paraguayan Socialist Party (PSP). The Paraguayan Communist Party (PCP) withdrew from IU in 2003.

Ideology

The PPL platform calls for, among other things,

* the consolidation of national independence, including political and economic independence
* the abolition of repressive laws and decrees;
* protection of freedom of thought, freedom of political organization, freedom of association, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and the right to strike;
* an end to impunity for past human rights violations;
* a national plan for economic development directed by the state;
* wide-ranging agrarian reform;
* a national plan for health, education, and housing;
* the eradication of all forms of discrimination and oppression;
* full participation of women in the political, economic, and social spheres;
* special attention to the needs of children, seniors, and the disabled;
* the preservation of the environment and wise exploitation of natural resources;
* and the eventual political and economic integration of Latin America based on socialist principles.

Possible criminal activity

PPL leaders have recently been accused of carrying out a pair of high-profile kidnappings. Two PPL leaders, Juan Arrom and Anuncio Martí, were abducted by the police and held for two weeks for their alleged involvement in the November 2001 disappearance of María Bordón de Debernardi (who was released unharmed in January 2002). The incident became a national scandal that forced the resignation of the interior and justice ministers, and the police chief. In December 2002, Arrom and Martí were formally charged of kidnapping. In August 2003, shortly after police discovered a weapons cache belonging to the party, the two men escaped the country and won political refugee status in Brazil. As of early 2005, Arrom resided in Brazil.

Osmar Martínez, a former PPL leader who was expelled in 2004, was accused by Attorney-General Oscar Latorre of masterminding the disappearance and killing of Cecilia Cubas, daughter of former Paraguayan president Raúl Cubas. Latorre announced the discovery of an e-mail link between Martínez and leaders of the Marxist Colombian rebel group FARC. PPL has repeatedly denied involvement in the Cubas murder, maintaining that the authorities are attempting to inculcate the notion that "socialist and popular political organizations are criminals."

Elections

In the 2003 presidential election, Tomás Zayas of the United Left received about 0.3 percent of the vote (4,550 total votes). In legislative elections held on April 27, 2003, PPL candidates won 1.1 percent of the vote in the Chamber of Deputies and 1.0 percent of the vote in the Senate. Neither result was significant enough to seat any candidates.

References

* [http://elecciones.pyglobal.com/ppl.php Elecciones Generales – Paraguay 2003]
* " [http://www.monografias.com/trabajos14/ideologparaguay/ideologparaguay.shtml#PATRIA Ideologías de los partidos políticos del Paraguay] "