Itaipu ex-workers assure that they are stronger and will continue in the fight

Former workers from Itaipu Binacional and from contractor companies assure that they are stronger than ever after being repressed by the National Police and the Paraguayan Navy last Tuesday, after the closure of the Friendship Bridge, demanding the collection of labor benefits and that they already received their Brazilian peers more than three decades ago. Today marks the 74th day of the demonstration next to the access barrier to the dam, in front of the San Francisco de Hernandarias neighborhood.

“We are totally strengthened. The same day of the incident, the comrades got into their vehicles and went to close the Itaipu barrier, fish farming, infrastructure and works, hydraulics, and the nursery. The effect was completely the opposite. This strengthens us even more, so that we continue with the fight, because we really have to put an end to this,” said Francisco Rolón, president of the Association of Former Workers of the Itaipu Binacional Margin Derecha (ASETRIMD).

He regretted that the media in the capital take a position and that they “misinform” the public. “They say that Fonacide is going to be played, it is a fallacy installed by them. Here you have to be clear. There are 22 benefits that were not paid by Itaipu to colleagues on the left bank. We are demanding seven benefits, which reach 940 million dollars and people are tearing their clothes”.

The leader added that if the calculation is made by adding the 22 benefits, it would reach 3.00 to 4.500.5 million dollars. “It is totally different and those who are guided by the tabloid press believe them and say that we have no right. We are claiming, because there are rights and benefits that were charged to us ”.

BRAZILIAN SIDE

At another time, Rolón regretted the incident recorded last Tuesday during the closure of the Bridge. He said that he does not have an explanation and that they did not provoke him, and that they were on the Brazilian side. “We were demonstrating on the Brazilian side, for the record and for the compatriots to know. The Police and the Navy seized the middle of the bridge where the currency between Brazil and Paraguay is. They were stationed on the Paraguayan side and we on the Brazilian side.”

Given this circumstance, they could not have acted as they did. “In fact, the Federal Police itself came to guard us, they knew and understood that the cause was just. This was the second time we closed the bridge. That first time it was just a warning and they listened to us. We are celebrating more than 70 days of demonstration in front of the Itaipu barrier, ”he added.

He recalled that they informed the human rights commission of the Chamber of Senators and the Chamber of Deputies of the peaceful demonstration, the human rights department, the National Police, the Attorney General of the East, Emilio Rolón, and the president himself. of the Republic, Mario Abdo Benítez.

“But what happens, when they don’t give any answer, logically they had to put more pressure on you so that a representative of the Government can come. But what did Itaipu do, it used the Public Ministry and the National Police and with the Navy they came to repress us, when we were demonstrating towards the Brazilian side”.

He said it was outrageous how they were treated. He stressed that at no time did they burn covers or use bombs to attract attention. “We had nothing and they came to proceed in that way, it is totally unfair because the claim is fair, the documents exist and we do not know why the binational entity is denying these rights to these grandparents.”

UNCONSTITUTIONAL

For its part, Itaipu alleges that the claim is unconstitutional, for which reason the compensation law was vetoed. In addition, it would have a high cost for the State, indicates the note issued by the entity’s communication advisory.

They insist that the payment of the claim is unfeasible, taking into account that the entity is managed binationally and the financial resources are indivisible and are subject to an international treaty.