The Peruvian government has denied that it is implementing a policy of systematic human rights violations and racism in the country, rejecting a report by the non-governmental organization Amnesty International on the suppression of anti-government mass demonstrations that broke out in December.

“The government (…) unequivocally emphasizes that there is no policy of mass and systematic violation of human rights in Peru, nor what has been characterized as ‘systemic racism’ in the actions of the authorities,” the Ministry of Justice emphasized in a press release published over the weekend .

In its report, released on Thursday, Amnesty International accuses the Peruvian government of committing “gross violations of human rights in the context of the violent suppression of the protests.”

For the NGO, the way the authorities acted showed the “deep-rooted racist prejudice” in Peru, as “historically discriminated populations” were targeted.

The protests broke out in Peru more than two months ago, with central demands that President Dina Boluarte resign, that parliamentary and presidential elections be held immediately, and that a Constituent Assembly be established to draw up a new Constitution.

During the protests, at least 48 civilians were killed in clashes with security forces, the vast majority of them in the Andean regions, south and southwest.

“The deadly crackdown is yet another indication of the police’s contempt for the indigenous and peasant population,” the Amnesty International report points out.

The Ministry of Justice, for its part, emphasized that it promoted investigations to find “those responsible for the violations of the right to life”, adding that the government is “aware” of the fact that “the fight against discrimination is one of the biggest challenges”.

Mrs. Boluarte took office on December 7, following the suspension of Congress, the arrest and pretrial detention of leftist former President Pedro Castillo, who is accused of attempting a “coup” for trying to dissolve Congress. The developments roused his supporters.

The president, who was elected vice president with Mr. Castillo’s Marxist-inspired party, is branded a “traitor” by the protesters, who are mainly members of indigenous tribes just like her predecessor.