Dear Minister of State,

In June 2012, the killing of 17 people in the context of a land conflict in Curuguaty, Canindeyu department, precipitated the impeachment of the then President Fernando Lugo in a series of events that caused many to fear for democracy and respect for the rule of law in Paraguay. Three peasant leaders, Benjamin Lezcano (19 February 2013), Vidal Vega (2 December 2012) and Sixto Perez (1 September 2012) have now been killed since September 2012. Human rights defenders such as these play a fundamental role in protecting the rights of others and in holding governments to account. I am writing to you to express my concern both at the apparent failure of the Paraguayan authorities to impartially investigate the events of June 2012, and at the recent killing of the three peasant leaders. As new elections approach, I believe the UK government has an important role to play in calling on the Paraguay authorities to respect human rights and democracy. Vidal Vega, the leader of a landless peasants movement, Campesinos sin tierra, was also the chair of the Committee of Relatives of Victims of the Curuguaty Massacre, (Comisión de familiares de las víctimas de la masacre de Curuguaty). As one of the few local leaders neither killed in the violence of June 2012 in Curuguaty, nor subsequently charged in connection with it, Vidal Vega had been expected to be a key witness in any subsequent trial. Respecting the work and rights of human rights defenders and bringing those responsible for human rights violations to justice is a fundamental part of a state's responsibility to uphold the rule of law. National and international human rights groups have long expressed concern at human rights violations committed by members of Paraguayan security forces and at the failure of the Paraguayan authorities to investigate allegations of such and to bring to justice those responsible for human rights violations. I ask you as Minister of State with responsibility for relations with Paraguay to request the Paraguay authorities to: - ensure that all necessary measures are taken to ensure that the killings of Benjamin Lezcano, Vidal Vega and Sixto Perez are thoroughly and impartially investigated and that those responsible are brought to justice in accordance with international standards for fair trial; - to investigate the reported threats against other peasant activists in Arroyito, the home area of Benjamin Lezcano, and members of a community radio station, Hugua Ñandú. - urgently adopt measures to guarantee the right to life, integrity and safety of human rights defenders and their families; - ensure that the role of the security forces in the June 2012 killings in Curuguaty be the subject of a new, thorough and impartial investigation and that any member of the security forces found to be responsible for any human rights violations, including extrajudicial executions, torture and ill-treatment and excessive use of lethal force be brought to justice; and - to release those currently on trial for the events of June 2012 while new investigations are carried out. I look forward to your response.

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