Support for Lugo

We join the governments of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador and the Dominican Republic in condemning the removal of the elected president, Fernando Lugo, in Paraguay, in a process widely described as a political coup ( Report , 22 June). President Lugo has called his removal a blow against Paraguay's democracy and, although accepting he is now out of office, has termed it an "express coup d'etat". President Lugo was given just 24 hours to prepare a defence against an impeachment instituted by a temporary rightwing majority in parliament, using procedures the Lugo government has previously declared illegal and unconstitutional. There have been reports of human rights abuses from the new regime. Activists in the Paraguayan unions are reporting that the military have fired at unarmed protesters. Tens of thousands are protesting for the return of Lugo. International support is vital. Richard Gott Hugh O'Shaughnessy Author, The Priest of Paraguay Ken Livingstone Professor Doreen Massey Dr Francisco Dominguez Centre for Brazilian and Latin American Studies, Middlesex University Colin Burgon Labour Friends of Venezuela and Venezuela Solidarity Campaign Billy Hayes General secretary, CWU Tony Burke Assistant general secretary, Unite the Union Aaron Kiely Black students' officer (elect), National Union of Students