The Talavera – Villasboas family are calling for national and international solidarity: “Today, once again, Petrona Villasboa de Talavera, mother of Silvino, his father, Juan Talavera, and his brothers and sisters (...) are making a call for solidarity to the people, organizations of Paraguay and all the countries of the world to fight for life”.

The family has filed a law suit against Schlender and Laustenlager and transnational corporation Monsanto. They demand the payment of damages.

On January 7, 2003, 11 year-old Silvino died of posioning after being sprayed with agrotoxics used in Schlender and Laustenlager’s GM soya plantations in Itapua, Paraguay. Silvino was directly sprayed, on the road he took when he was returning from the butcher’s. His sister Sofia, was also intoxicated when eating the meat and she barely survived.

Juan Talavera told Real World Radio about the incidents that led to his son’s death. He said Silvino arrived home from the butcher’s with sweating and itching. He gave the meat to his sister so that she would cook it. The next day Silvino said he was feeling very ill and his mother took him to hospital. A couple of hours later he died.

In 2004, Schlender and Laustenlager were found guilty of manslaughter and production of risks to the public and were sentenced to two years in prison. But the soy producers appealed and the tribunal ordered a mistrial. But Silvino’s family filed a new criminal suit in 2005. The second trial concluded with the same ruling and sentence as the previous one, but the two prosecuted remain free.

Petrona told Real World Radio that there are no words to explain the pain of her family and why the businessmen are not in jail and continue using agrotoxics in the same area.

“The criminal trial is over. They have to go to prison, but they won’t. They are home. Unfortunately we don’t know why they are not in jail. The truth is that there is no justice here in Paraguay. I am devastated. We have nothing left, no animals or anything because we spent all our money. We’ve been in this fight for eight years. It is really hard for me”, said Petrona.

In the international call for solidarity, the Talavera-Villasboa family mentions the death of their son, the criminal proceedings, and the ongoing trial. Under the name “Silvino Talavera lives”, the call asks people and organizations to send letters of support to the Court and the Paraguayan judiciary, aand to national media.

Petrona explained why the suit filed also accuses Monsanto. The US corporation owns RR GM soy, which is planted in Paraguay and the region, and glyphosate herbicide used in these plantations.

Petrona said that “a civil trial began a year ago” against Schlender and Laustenlager and against Monsanto Paraguay “because we also consider the company is responsible”. “They were supposed to issue a ruling in ten months, but the trial is stalled and nothing has been decided yet”, said Silvino’s mother.

She later said that in 2003, glyphosate was not legal in Paraguay yet and that it would be smuggled into the country. According to Petrona, Monsanto admitted its responsibility in the case, but its layers argued that two years have passed since Silvino’s death, therefore the lawsuit has expired.

Silvino’s family suffers many health problems as a result of the continuous exposure to the agrotoxic sprayings, a customary practice in the country where GM soy has greatly advanced. The brothers, sisters and parents of Silvino have had lung, stomach problems, allergies, head aches and bone aches, and they need medical treatment they cannot afford.

Besides, the family has continued being persecuted by a tragedy caused by the soya agroexporting model in the country. They have received threats to withdraw the charges. Serapio Villasboa, uncle of Silvino, was kidnapped and murdered, while Sofia, who saved her life in 2003, saw the death of her own child as a result of the poison that she had in her blood.

A very disturbing reality that the family of Silvino has to endure, but they continue fighting after seven years. Petrona said “We demand a compensation because we have spent all our money, we have nothing left. I lost everything. I lost my son Silvino, and I lost all of my children because they are sick, they need treatment, they need medicines. And for that reason we are asking for this compensation, so that my children can have health care. Ours is a terrible situation”.

The murder of Silvino remains unpunished, but the Paraguayan judiciary can still do something and give some peace to this peasant family who has suffered immensely. Better late than ever.

Photo: http://www.rap-al.org