Museo de la Justicia y Archivos del Terror

UNESCOMuseum

The Stroessner-era police archive, found in 1992 and recognised by UNESCO, now kept in Asunción.

in Asunción

1 hourDuration

What it is

The so-called Archives of Terror are the records of the police investigation department during Alfredo Stroessner's dictatorship: files on detainees, confidential reports, surveillance logs and communications between security forces of several Southern Cone countries as part of Operation Condor. Today they are kept by the Centre for Documentation and Archive for the Defence of Human Rights, under the General Directorate of Truth, Justice and Reparation, and are exhibited at the Museum of Justice in Asunción. It is a serious and necessary visit for understanding the country's recent history. You can pair it with the Museum of Memories, which tells the same period from the victims' experience.

What to see and do

Original Operation Condor documents
The value of documentary memory for human rights
UNESCO Memory of the World recognition (2009)

Did you know…?

The discovery took place in Lambaré, less than four years after the end of the dictatorship (1989).

According to the source, the documents cover 1950–1980 and include coordination among the region's military regimes.

History

The archive was found on 22 December 1992 in Lambaré by Martín Almada, with the help of judge José Agustín Fernández. In 2009 it was added to UNESCO's Memory of the World programme.

Tips

The subject is heavy: give it time and, if you can, ask for a guide.
Pair it with the Museo de las Memorias downtown.
The museum is on the ground floor of the Palace of Justice in Asunción (Testanova and Mariano Roque Alonso streets); bring your ID in case you are asked for it at the entrance.
For questions you can contact the judiciary through its public information line.

According to the judiciary it opens Monday to Friday in the morning (7:00 am to 1:00 pm, a 2012 figure): check before you go.

Best time: Weekday mornings.

Activities

Museums Guided tour History & missions Living culture

Festivals and events here

Apr

International Jazz Day in Asunción

Jazz concerts at cultural centers and stages around the capital to celebrate the genre’s world day.

MusicAsunción, Asunción (Distrito Capital)May→ Jun

Asunción International Book Fair (FIL)

Ten days of books, authors and language: the country’s great literary festival, with free entry and a guest country.

CulturalAsunción, Asunción (Distrito Capital)Featured May

Independence Days (May 14 and 15)

Two public holidays for the 1811 independence: flags, ceremonies, sopa paraguaya and chipa guasu all over the country.

CulturalAsunción, Asunción (Distrito Capital)Aug

August 1: National Carrulim Day

On the first day of August people drink carrulim—cane liquor, rue and lemon—to ward off the ills of the most dreaded month.

TraditionAsunción y todo el país, Varios Aug

August 15: Founding of Asunción and Feast of Our Lady of the Assumption

The birthday of the Mother of Cities coincides with the feast of its patron saint: Mass at the Cathedral, a public holiday and cultural events.

ReligiousAsunción, Asunción (Distrito Capital)Featured