Paraguay was ruled from August 1954 to February 1989 by dictator Alfredo Stroessner. Prisoners were detained in what is now El Museo de Los Memorias. Up to 100 prisoners were crammed in the cells. Music was played really loud to try and drive them crazy and the bathtub was used to almost drown the prisoners-
The only opening to the solitary confinement cell where water and food could be passed-
Scissors were used to pull out finger and toe nails-
An electric prod was also used, especially on the genitals-
This ball was used to give lashes-
Over the years, almost 20,000 people were detained and close to 19,000 were tortured.
My next stop was at the Museo de Cabildo to see clothing worn by Shamans. There are head dresses made of feathers-
And maracas-
Religious statues from Colonial times were in the next room- Santa Rosa de Lima and La Virgen de Los Dolores. It's a funny, dark room, sort of an after thought I'm sure and a snub by the Indigenous-
Outside the Cultural Centre is the tent city - a favella or slum. A lot of the houses were flooded, as was the soccer field so just in the last week, some have moved up into the nearby park-
Once the water subsides, they will move home. They don't have running water or electricity but the city has moved in a few portapotties. Walls are plywood and roofs are tin-
I would have liked to walk through the area but was warned it was too dangerous.
Everybody drinks mate and they chose their herbs fresh-
Lunch was fish soup, a Paraguan specialty. The broth was excellent but the fish was fatty. I don't think I've ever eaten, or rather spit out, fish fat before-
Weibke, Russ and I are cooking tomorrow in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil so we went grocery shopping this afternoon. Looking forward to moving on!
No comments:
Post a Comment