Word: stroessner
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...revolt abruptly ended the 34-year rule of Stroessner, an autocrat who had shown every promise of realizing the dream of all dictators: to die in bed, holding power to the end. There had been only the slightest intimations that Stroessner's days were numbered. Despite close personal ties between the two generals (Rodriguez's daughter is married to Stroessner's son), Rodriguez had quietly sided with a faction within the ruling Colorado Party that favors limited democratic reforms. As a result, Stroessner reportedly was on the verge of moving Rodriguez to a purely ceremonial position. Rodriguez, who has headed...
Washington officials responded to the news of Stroessner's political demise with little optimism. Despite some appealing rhetoric, few believe Rodriguez will institute democratic reform. "Most likely, it's going to be more of the same," said a senior military analyst. The anti-Communist Stroessner has long been one of Washington's staunchest backers. But his dismal record on human rights compelled successive U.S. Administrations to denounce Stroessner as a dictator...
...dinosaur among despots, Stroessner ruled with absolute authority longer than any other leader in the Western hemisphere and was second only to North Korea's Kim Il Sung as the world's most durable dictator. After sweeping to power in a military coup in 1954, Stroessner nominated himself President, then engineered his pro forma re-election seven times. Despite sporadic challenges to his rule, the patriarch faced no serious opposition. Unlike many countries in the Americas, landlocked Paraguay has no tradition of democracy...
Over the past decade, as military dictatorships toppled throughout Latin America, Stroessner kept the army's loyalty by cutting it in on contraband, kickbacks and theft. A state of siege, regularly renewed and lifted only two years ago, empowered police to arrest thousands of opponents. Early in Stroessner's regime, critics were routinely branded as Communist subversives, often tortured and killed; in later years, foes were jailed or exiled...
Still, most Paraguayans did not clamor for Stroessner's fall. In the 50 years preceding his ascent to power, the country endured civil wars, coups and more than 30 shaky presidencies. If curtailment of fundamental freedoms was the price for political and economic stability, most citizens were willing to buy into the Faustian bargain. During most of Stroessner's rule, Paraguay maintained a rate of economic growth unusual for Latin America...