Paraguay official fired for kicking indigenous woman
ASUNCION, Paraguay — Paraguay’s president has fired the head of the country’s Indian affairs office amid accusations he kicked an indigenous woman.
President Horacio Cartes said Friday that he won’t allow someone who represents indigenous people to kick a woman.
A video circulating on social media shows Indian affairs chief Jorge Servin lifting his left knee and kicking Jorgelina Portillo of the Ava Guarani ethnic group with the sole of his shoe during a Thursday protest.
Servin denies striking the woman and says he lifted his knee only in self-defense.
The demonstration by some 200 members of the ethnic group took place in the northern Canindeyu region. They were protesting over Servin sending a bill to Congress that would restrict the leasing of state land managed by indigenous people.
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