President Fernando Lugo signed the measure recently, by declaring emergency for 60 days in the San Pedro and northern departments of Concepcion. The measure allows the government to mobilize the armed forces and the suspension of certain civil liberties for the duration of the period.

The crisis legislation was expected in respond to an EPP rebel attack on a police checkpoint in the town of Horqueta, a town in the province of Concepción, in which two policemen were killed on September 21. Congress indefinitely overdue the bill, with lawmakers oppose the declaration, but it was accepted after hours when one soldier was wounded with a bullet in the same checkpoint on October 5. The incident is suspected to have been an attack by the rebel group. The government has sent troops and armored vehicles on the streets of the cities of Concepcion and San Pedro.

Thegovernment's decision to announce a state of emergency has created controversy in some circles. Retired Gen. Carlos Liseras assessed the military reaction as unbalanced to the threat posed by the EPP, which may have only 50 members. During a previous state of emergency declaration, the military forces mistakenly assaulted the local police headquarters, however the general in command of the operation of the military police insisted that relations have improved and their operations will be synchronized.