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Asunción Residents Accuse Municipality of Blocking Land Titles to Benefit Developer Grupo Vázquez
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Crime & Justice

Asunción Residents Accuse Municipality of Blocking Land Titles to Benefit Developer Grupo Vázquez

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Residents of La Piedad, Asunción, claim the municipality has halted their land titling processes, coinciding with the arrival of Grupo Vázquez SA, which plans to develop a gated community.
  • Long-term residents accuse the group of pressuring families to sell their properties, with some facing bureaucratic obstacles after refusing offers.
  • The article highlights specific cases of residents facing difficulties in titling their long-held properties, with municipal officials reportedly being uncooperative.

Residents of the La Piedad neighborhood in Asunción are denouncing a sudden halt to their property titling procedures by the Asunción Municipality. This blockage reportedly began shortly after Grupo Vázquez SA, led by Federico Miguel Vázquez, announced plans to develop a gated community in the area. Residents suspect a coordinated effort to pressure them into selling their land.

This is the only and most important investment of my life.

— María Roque SánchezExplaining her refusal to accept relocation offers that would not cover her existing mortgage.

María Roque Sánchez, a widow who has lived in La Piedad for 50 years, faces this situation. Despite paying her taxes and utilities promptly, the municipality has classified her property as "rented" since 2000. Following her refusal to negotiate with Gustavo Rojas, a retired military officer representing Grupo Vázquez, who has repeatedly visited her home, the municipal hurdles have intensified. She reports that municipal officials are now discouraging her, suggesting "this is not the neighborhood" and that "everything is being bought here."

Sánchez insists she will not move and demands the right to title her property, calling it her life's most significant investment. Similar difficulties are reported by Carlos González, a resident for 34 years who initiated the titling process for a family-divided plot 32 years ago. After nearly eight years in the judicial system and investing in a survey, he has received no response from the municipality, which is administered by Mayor Luis Bello. González, who is current on his rent payments, alleges that the capital's commune is deliberately delaying his case.

I am fine here and I don't want to leave.

— Carlos GonzálezStating his refusal to be pressured into selling his property.

While González has not received direct offers, he observes neighbors succumbing to pressure. He states, "I am fine here and I don't want to leave." ABC Color attempted to contact Aarón Martínez, the Director of Cadastre at the Asunción Municipality, but received no response. Mirian Ramírez, another long-term resident, has also reported systematic "harassment" from Grupo Vázquez SAE, including alleged intimidation by private guards.

this is not the neighborhood or everything is being bought here.

— Municipal officialsAs reported by resident María Roque Sánchez, describing the discouragement she received at the municipality.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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