The arrest, arrest and pretrial detention on December 7 of former President Pedro Castillo sparked Peru’s worst riots in decades in which at least 41 civilians and one police officer have died.
The Peruvian attorney general’s office has begun conducting eleven preliminary investigations into the deaths of more than forty people, almost all civilians, in the protests and incidents that have rocked the Latin American country since December, the day government officials under the president Dina Bolluarte and the day after the repetition of mass mobilizations, this time especially in the capital.
The arrest, arrest and pretrial detention on December 7 of former President Pedro Castillo sparked Peru’s worst riots in decades in which at least 41 civilians and one police officer have died.
A statement released by the attorney general’s office says the investigations being conducted by Patricia Benavides are focused on clashes between protesters and law enforcement in the regions of Puno, Cusco, Arequipa, Apurimac and Ucayali — home to large indigenous communities. — and in the capital city of Lima.
Earlier this week, Ms. Benavides announced that she had also launched a preliminary investigation into “genocide” against President Bolluarte, current and former members of her government.
The country’s vice president until December 7 was sworn in as the new president after the right-wing Congress suspended former President Castillo, who tried to dissolve parliament earlier in the day, a move that his opponents like Ms. Boluarte called ” coup”.
Yesterday Friday the Ministers of Interior, Labor and Women submitted their resignations, announced the Head of State. Ms. Boluarte clarified that Vicente Romero, a retired police general, will take over as the new interior minister.
According to the services of Attorney General Benavides, in addition to the people who lost their lives, 355 demonstrators and 176 police officers have been injured in the riots, while 329 citizens have been arrested.
For Edgar Steward, the head of the mission of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) visiting the country to “assess” the situation, a broad national dialogue is urgent. Mr. Stewardo also emphasized that the endless conflict between the legislative and executive branches has undermined the confidence of Peruvians in the institutions.
This conflict is a key component of the political crisis in Peru, which has seen six presidents and three parliaments in five years.
“We are waiting to see what will happen in the coming days,” Mr. Stewardos told reporters after three days of contacts by the mission with the authorities, social organizations, victims and their relatives. “We hope there will be no more deaths,” he added.
Human rights groups accuse Peru’s police and army — which was deployed on the streets after a state of emergency was declared — of using excessive force, notably firing live bullets. Security and government officials counter that protesters, especially in the south, are using improvised weapons and explosives.
Thousands of citizens demonstrated in Lima yesterday Thursday demanding the resignation of the “racist”, “class” government under Mrs. Boluarte, the closure of Congress and the immediate announcement of presidential and parliamentary elections.
The head of state rejects the protesters’ demands and points out that the elections have already been decided to be held early, in April 2024 instead of 2026.
RES-EMP
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