“Every Paraguayan is Colombian”: the story behind the myth

In recent days, phrases have emerged regarding the support that Colombians will provide to the Paraguayan national team, next Tuesday against Peru, as a draw or a Paraguayan victory, added to Colombia's victory over Venezuela, would eventually lead coffee growers to the repechage towards Qatar 2022.

In the middle of these phrases of support, a brotherhood between Colombia and Paraguay has been noticed that goes beyond football. The history of both countries marks a milestone of union between Guarani and coffee growers, confirming the famous phrase “every Paraguayan is Colombian and every Colombian is Paraguayan”.

Everything goes back to 1864, since prior to this date, Uruguayan territory fought a fierce civil war between Blancos and Colorados, two segments of the population that supported South American nationalism on the one hand and European roots on the other. This situation triggered a strong internal struggle in Charrúa territory and gradually aroused the attention of the neighboring countries among which they were; Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil. At that time Paraguay was ruled by Francisco Solano López, and it had a very marked development in agriculture and a nascent industry.

The Paraguayans decided to support the White Party of Uruguay, this in order to give strength to South American progressivism, while Argentina and Brazil did not welcome this position; therefore, they decided to add their support to the Colorado party. Although Paraguay initially tried to support the whites with troops, Argentina did not allow the Guarani army to pass through, which was taken as a declaration of war by Solano López.

This belligerence caused both Brazil and Argentina to attack the neighboring provinces of Paraguay, trying to reach Asunción, the capital of that country. The power of the Brazilian Empire and the Argentine Republic shook a country that staked its survival and suffered considerable losses.

This conflict was called the War of the Triple Alliance, classified as the bloodiest confrontation in South American history, leaving at least 300,000 dead for Paraguay and nearly 140,000 between Argentines, Uruguayans and Brazilians. As a historical fact, the supremacy that attacked Paraguay, children, women and the elderly, were used to form its defense army, a situation that is always remembered in this country because of the heroism of its citizens. About 90% of Paraguayan men died in this conflict.

The magnitude of the invading armies caused many of the men defending Paraguayan territory to succumb. This aroused the attention of the United States of Colombia, who, headed by President Eustorgio Salgar, called for sanity and promoted a law in favor of Paraguayans, becoming the first nation to support that people.

This law sought to provide moral assistance to the Paraguayan people, highlighting their heroism in the campaign. In turn, from Bogotá, it was emphasized that, if that country disappeared, the idea was that Paraguayans would not be stateless in America from that moment on, therefore, they would have constitutional benefits like any other Colombian.

However, in this connection there was already a legal remedy that could benefit the Guarani in any case, referring to paragraph four of article 31 of the Political Constitution of the United States of Colombia of 1863, which emphasized that they were Colombians: “Those born in any of the Hispanic American Republics, provided that they have established their residence in the territory of the Union, and declared to the competent authority that they want to be Colombians.” , that is to say that if they migrate to Colombian lands, any Paraguayan could become a Colombian.

Although the idea that every Colombian and Paraguayan citizen can obtain dual citizenship becomes a simple myth, today there is a strong brotherhood between the two countries.

Different Paraguayan leaders who have visited Colombian territory highlight the moral support provided to their homeland. The tributes offered by the Guarani, leave a football team and a district that exalt the name of Colombia.

Nueva Colombia: It is a district in the department of Cordillera, a few kilometers from the city of Asunción. This jurisdiction stands out for its mining production and agronomic expansion, features that weigh on the economy of this region, in addition, the flag of this territory is identical to that of Colombia.

Sport Colombia: it is a team from the city of Fernando de la Mora, near the Paraguayan capital, today it disputes the promotion categories of that country. It emerged in 1924 as a commemoration of the Colombian government's support for Paraguay in times of war, his last participation in the first category was in 2010, when he competed in the opening tournament, but his poor performance led him to relegation.

KEEP READING: