Paraguay Demanded Brazil Return the Cannon "El Cristiano," Captured During the War of the Triple Alliance and Currently Displayed at the National Historical Museum in Rio de Janeiro

Paraguay Demanded Brazil Return the Cannon “El Cristiano,” Captured During the War of the Triple Alliance and Currently Displayed at the National Historical Museum in Rio de Janeiro

Written by Rafaela Fabris

Published on 02/05/2024 at 18:10

Foto: IA/Divulgação

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Paraguay Continues to Demand the Return of the Cannon “El Cristiano” to Brazil, a Military Artifact Captured During the War of the Triple Alliance and Currently Displayed at the National Historical Museum in Rio de Janeiro. The Demand Reignites Questions About the Custody and Conservation of War Trophies in a Context of Historical and Diplomatic Preservation Between the Two Countries.

According to a report from G1, in a continuation of historical claims, Paraguay requests Brazil to repatriate the cannon “El Cristiano”, a military symbol captured by the Brazilian Army during the War of the Triple Alliance (1864-1870), and which is currently on display at the National Historical Museum in Rio de Janeiro. This request reignites discussions about the conservation and appropriation of historical artifacts among the involved nations.

The War of the Triple Alliance, involving Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, is marked as one of the most devastating conflicts in South America, with deep consequences for Paraguay, which lost a large part of its population and territory following the war. “El Cristiano”, a bronze cannon made from church bells, became a powerful symbol of this conflict, distinguished by its crucial role in battles and its representation of Paraguayan resistance.

Argentina and Uruguay Have Already Returned War Trophies to Paraguay, and Brazil Did the Same With Other Items During Negotiations for the Construction of the Itaipu Dam

Historically, Argentina and Uruguay have already returned war trophies to Paraguay, and Brazil did the same with other items during the negotiations for the construction of the Itaipu Dam, but the cannon remains in Brazil. In 2010 and again in 2014, the Brazilian government promised to evaluate the return of the cannon, but concrete actions have not been observed.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW

The Issue of the Cannon’s Repatriation Divides Opinions Within Paraguay

Paraguay demanded Brazil return the cannon "El Cristiano", captured during the War of the Triple Alliance and now displayed at the National Historical Museum in Rio de Janeiro — Cannon El Cristiano displayed in the Court of Cannons at the National Historical Museum in Rio de Janeiro Photo: Wikipedia/Disclosure

Currently, the issue of the cannon’s repatriation divides opinions within Paraguay itself. While President Santiago Peña Palácios reinforces the request for return as part of his mandate, local journalists and historians, such as Andrés Gutiérrez, argue that the cannon may be better preserved in Brazil, given the lack of resources for heritage maintenance in Paraguay. This viewpoint highlights the irony of the situation: while Paraguay struggles to recover its heritage, it faces significant challenges in preserving what it already has.

“El Cristiano” Puts Into Perspective the Complexities of Brazil and Paraguay Relations

The situation of the cannon “El Cristiano” puts into perspective the complexities of the relations between Brazil and Paraguay, bringing discussions to the forefront about the duty of countries to preserve and respect historical artifacts in a global context. With the cannon still on Brazilian soil and negotiations at an impasse, the future of this important historical artifact remains uncertain, reflecting the lasting scars of a conflict that shaped the fate of a nation.

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Fábio Salgado

#6435

03/05/2024 07:55

A resposta é NÃO!!

-1

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Alberto Acuña

#68745

Reply to Fábio Salgado

29/10/2024 09:08

Tienen que devolver un símbolo de los ultrajes, torturas y asesinatos cometidos por el ejercito imperial en territorio paraguayo de las cuales no se salvaron mujeres, ancianos y niños, además del territorio legítimamente paraguayo despojado en tratados injustos con un gobierno maniatado.
El Brasil debe mucho al Paraguay, y una forma simbólica de comenzar las reparaciones son las de devolver lo robado, dejando de lado la prepotente respuesta “A resposta é NAO!!”.

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Paraguay Demanded Brazil Return the Cannon “El Cristiano,” Captured During the War of the Triple Alliance and Currently Displayed at the National Historical Museum in Rio de Janeiro

Argentina and Uruguay Have Already Returned War Trophies to Paraguay, and Brazil Did the Same With Other Items During Negotiations for the Construction of the Itaipu Dam

The Issue of the Cannon’s Repatriation Divides Opinions Within Paraguay

“El Cristiano” Puts Into Perspective the Complexities of Brazil and Paraguay Relations

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Paraguay Demanded Brazil Return the Cannon “El Cristiano,” Captured During the War of the Triple Alliance and Currently Displayed at the National Historical Museum in Rio de Janeiro

Argentina and Uruguay Have Already Returned War Trophies to Paraguay, and Brazil Did the Same With Other Items During Negotiations for the Construction of the Itaipu Dam

The Issue of the Cannon’s Repatriation Divides Opinions Within Paraguay

“El Cristiano” Puts Into Perspective the Complexities of Brazil and Paraguay Relations

A village with 115 inhabitants wants new residents: it offers a house, a job, up to 44 thousand euros in benefits, almost free rent, an annual grant of 8 thousand euros for 3 years, and a 20 thousand euro incentive for businesses in the mountains of Italy.

NASA is offering US$ 750,000 to people from anywhere in the world who solve a problem that could decide survival on Mars: creating food for astronauts without relying on resupply from Earth.

Belgium will sink 23 giant concrete caissons, each weighing 22,000 tons, in the North Sea to build the world’s first artificial energy island 45 km off the coast, forming offshore electrical walls.

New microwave that can replace three appliances hits the market: Sharp launches 3-in-1 model that combines air fryer, convection oven, and heating in 0.9 cubic feet for small kitchens

While Brazil has been discussing bullet trains for 16 years, China delivers 5 new high-speed lines in 2026, surpasses 50,000 km of HSR, and moves 1 billion passengers in a single year.

While countries spend billions to draw water from the sea, a Nobel-winning scientist creates a container-sized machine that extracts up to 1,000 liters per day from dry air and uses ultrasound to release water in minutes, even in the middle of the desert.

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Nuclear aircraft carrier USS Nimitz appears in Rio de Janeiro and causes the Navy to activate a radiological operation full of protocols in Guanabara Bay.

Chinese company that produces 100,000 tons of wire per year and already supplies Suzano signs a protocol to install a factory in Três Lagoas, in the heart of the Cellulose Valley, and promises to reduce costs for the state’s factories.