Paraguay: Communist Rebel Leader Osvaldo Villalba Killed After Clash With Military

Authorities in Paraguay have dealt a huge blow against the country's Marxist rebels after a military operation resulted in the death of the leader of the communist Paraguayan People's Army (EPP), Osvaldo Villalba.

According to Barron's, the communist rebel leader was killed alongside two other EPP members. They have recently terrorized residents for over a decade with various crimes, including extortion and kidnapping.

The other rebel killed was identified as Luciano Arguello, while the other was only identified as "Simon." They were the only three fatalities from the clash, though one civilian was seriously injured and was taken to the hospital.

After the shootout, members of the military fingerprinted the dead rebels, and one of them matched Osvaldo Villalba's fingerprints.

Operation To Hunt Down Osvaldo Villalba Came After Kidnapping of Former Vice President

Before the operation to hunt down the Marxist leader was carried out, a string of killings and kidnappings occurred in Paraguay.

The most high-profile case was that of the country's former Vice-President Oscar Denis, who, according to the BBC, was kidnapped in September 2020.

On Sunday, soldiers on patrol in Amambay province encountered the rebels, with gunshots being fired. At the scene of the shootout, the soldiers also found two indigenous people dead. It was reported that these indigenous people were accused of providing information to the military and were executed by members of the EPP. However, a spokesperson for the Paraguayan Army stated that it was still unclear why they had attacked those indigenous men exactly.

Paraguayan President Mario Abdo called on members of the EPP on Sunday and encouraged them to surrender.

"This is not a happy night for anyone," he said. "This is not the way to fight for your ideals. As commander-in-chief, I make a call for peace."

The group financed its armed uprising against the oligarchy through kidnappings and extortion. The death of Osvaldo Villalba complicates things further for the rebel group and is widely seen as a heavy blow to the EPP.

Mother of Rebel Leader Osvaldo Villalba Condemns Death of Her Son

Osvaldo Villalba is the brother of the EPP's founder, Carmen Villalba, who is currently in prison. While the death of the Marxist rebel leader has brought relief to some communities in rural Paraguay, many are not very happy, especially Osvaldo's mother, Mariana Ayala Lopez.

According to ABC TV Paraguay, she condemned the president of Paraguay for what she called "infanticide," in a statement to Radio Nanduti. The mother of the two rebel leaders also called the president other names like a criminal, bloodthirsty, and a murderer. She also added that she has dedicated herself to "defending" her children.

Mariana Ayala's other surviving children are also part of the EPP, including Jose Villalba, who heads the rebel group's logistics, as well as Myrian Viviana Villalba Ayala, who previously led a clash with the Paraguayan military that resulted in the deaths of two minor girls. Both leaders escaped to Argentina in 2021.

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: ¿Quién fue Osvaldo Villalba? - ABC TV Paraguay