Osmar Cáceres, a reporter with the Paraguayan news outlet DX, contributed to this article. Two days after demonstrators set fire to Congress, thrusting Paraguay to the center of international news, Paraguayans are tallying the damage, discussing the fragility of the nation's democracy and the constitutional amendment that started it all, and are looking with concern at the police repression that brings back painful memories of the Stronista dictatorship (1954-1989). What originally set protesters into the streets was the decision by Paraguay's Congress, taken in a parallel, secret session, to approve a constitutional amendment that would allow the re-election of President Horacio Cartes after 2018. The change directly challenges a different, older amendment made to the Paraguayan Constitution after Paraguay's return to democracy in the 1990s that prohibits re-elections of presidents or vice presidents “in any situation”. For many, the move is a step toward entrenching an administration that shows little regard for Paraguay's most vulnerable communities and is already considered authoritarian: CARTES CUANDO VAS A ENTENDER QUE PARAGUAY NO ES UNA DE TUS EMPRESAS, EL PARAGUAY NO ES TUYO, ES DE TODOS LOS CIUDADANOS, IMBÉCIL #Enmienda — Parawhy pinguino (@pinguinitopy) March 31, 2017 Cartes, when will you understand that Paraguay is not one of your private businesses?! Paraguay does not belong to you, it belongs to all of its citizens. Moron.#Enmienda Efforts to allow for presidential re-election in Paraguay lead to violent clashes in the capital #Enmienda #Reeleccion pic.twitter.com/3rGio4ZFtC — El Surtidor (@elsurti) April 1, 2017 At the urging of international leaders, government representatives agreed to open dialogue with opponents of the amendment. However, the head of state made it clear that he will not back down from the possibility of being re-elected and critics will refuse to meet if the re-election proposal is not ruled out completely. Meanwhile, protests continue and different groups are calling for the population to take to the streets despite strong police repression over the weekend and the latent threat of new police interventions. The authorities announced tighter controls, particularly against those who attempt to reach the centrally located capital, Asunción, from anywhere else in the country. The goal, they say, is to stop “vandalism” via “preventive” measures. Media outlets such as Kurtural have been sharing news and information from other partner media sites like El Surtidor (The Supplier), such as the tweet below with an image alerting readers to the government's surveillance capabilities: A tener presente en medio de las movilizaciones: Estado paraguayo tendría software para espiar tu computadora o celular, según @citizenlab pic.twitter.com/wuPBnDjc1S — Kurtural (@kurtural_) April 3, 2017 Tweet: To keep in mind while organizing: the Paraguayan government has software to spy on your computer or phone, according to @citizenlab. Image: FinFisher is a surveillance software that can be installed on computers and cellphones inadvertently. The Paraguayan state bought this software, and it could help it to violate our right to privacy. The number of injured as a result of police actions have circulated on social media. Independent news outlets and political organizations have reported different forms of abuse. The repression reached a peak with the police killing of Rodrigo Quintana, a young opposition party activist with the Partido Liberal Radical Auténtico (PLRA – Authentic Radical Liberal Party). Kurtural shared a victim count: Las cifras del fin de semana de represión en Paraguay, incluyendo el asesinato del dirigente del PLRA, Rodrigo Quintana #Enmienda pic.twitter.com/lPiT6jRHf7 — Kurtural (@kurtural_) April 2, 2017 Tweet: The repression stats over the weekend in Paraguay, including the assassination of PLRA leader Rodrigo Quintana. Image: 1 deputy seriously injured by the police, 1 political party trampled by the police, 1 person murdered by the police, 211 people arrested without a warrant, 39 people wounded by the police (just in the Hospital del Trauma), 12 journalists wounded by the police. The media organization also kept a steady broadcast of key events after the storming of Congress: Un recuento de horas de movilización y represión en Paraguay tras el voto a puertas cerradas por la #enmienda pic.twitter.com/RsldxAd4Xs — Kurtural (@kurtural_) April 1, 2017 Tweet: A recount of the last hours of organizing and repression in Paraguay after #enmienda vote behind closed doors Image: Police repression in Asuncion. April 1 until 3 p.m. 1. After the fire at Congress, police stormed the plaza. Protesters withdraw. 2.