The national teachers’ union Sindicato Nacional de Educadores Jekupytyrã has called a general strike for 26 March, 2014.

The organisation described the action as a ‘historic event’, which will call on the government of Horacio Cartes, labelled as neo-liberal, to respect the people’s rights.

The statement released by the trade union sets out its demands for a 25 per cent pay rise and measures to control the prices of basic necessities.

It also expressed solidarity with peasant leaders, called for an end to their persecution and condemned the aerial crop spraying affecting peasant and indigenous communities.

In addition, the teachers’ union backed student demands related to the rise in public transport fares.

In a recent protest organised by the Permanent University Assembly, students demanded that fares be brought back down to 2,000 guaraníes (US$0.45).

The latest increase took the fare of a single ticket up to 2,400 guaraníes, the equivalent of US$0.50.

Students are calling for a public study to determine the real cost of a bus ticket, taking into account the number of passengers and the bus fleet in operation.

They are also calling for decent and affordable public transport that offers a service based on rights.

Students also drew attention to the labour rights of the bus drivers.

During the general strike, they will express their opposition to the regressive policies and privatisation agenda being pursued by the government of Horacio Cartes. The main point of contention is the recently approved Public-Private Partnerships Act.

The Paraguayan Congress approved the version of the law passed by the Senate in October 2013, with 60 votes in favour and 15 against.

The Guasú Front (an alliance of centre-left parties) rejected the government-sponsored initiative and deemed it unconstitutional. They described it as an attack on Paraguay’s sovereignty and a move to give “superpowers” to the Executive.

The Guasú Front and Avanza País both called for a referendum on the proposed legislation prior to the vote.

The vote in Congress was accompanied by protests in departments around the country and a mass demonstration in the centre of Asuncion.

The strongest show of opposition to the government bill came from the trade unions, social organisations, peasants and students.

The police used teargas, rubber bullets and batons to suppress the protests in Asuncion.

The PPP Act paves the way for private capital to carry out public infrastructure works and to take over public services in general.

The law, moreover, gives the Executive the power to authorise investments without consulting Congress and without applying the law on public procurement.

This article was first published, in Spanish, on Agencia Pulsar.