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Attorney General’s Office of Peru announcement On Tuesday, he would launch an investigation for “genocide” and “homicide” against leftist President Dina Boluarte, her Prime Minister Alberto Otárola and other members of her cabinet.
The investigation stems from the government’s actions in response to a wave of deadly left-wing violence in the country in response to the ousting and arrest of former communist president Pedro Castillo, who tried to stage a coup. state to prevent his impeachment last year. Boluarte served as Castillo’s vice-president.
Riots demanding Castillo’s return to power have so far left 47 reported died and dragged down the Peruvian economy losing approximately 1.2 billion Peruvian soles (US$315.1 million).
“The preliminary investigation concerns the alleged crimes of genocide, aggravated homicide and serious injuries, committed during the demonstrations of the months of December 2022 and January 2023 in the regions of Apurímac, La Libertad, Puno, Junín, Arequipa and Ayacucho,” the Peruvian government said. the prosecution said in an announcement posted to Twitter on Tuesday evening.
The preliminary investigation is for the presuntos delitos de genocidio, calificado homicidal y serious lesiones, cometidos pendante las manifestations en los meses de diciembre de 2022 y enero de 2023 en las regions de Apurímac, La Libertad, Puno, Junín, Arequipa y Ayacucho.
— Ministerio Público (@FiscaliaPeru) January 10, 2023
The announcement of the prosecutor’s office comes after Peru experimented its deadliest day of riots, in which 18 people died and 73 were injured in the town of Juliaca, Puno, on Monday. A policeman and a child were among the dead. rioters burned the officer, identified as José Luis Soncco Quispe, living inside his police vehicle.
The “genocide” investigation against Boluarte is the result of rioters accusing the police of violence against them.
Monday’s events in the town of Juliaca prompted the Peruvian government to impose a three-day nighttime curfew in the region.
Peru’s recent convoluted political situation – which has so far resulted in a total of six presidents in the past six years – has opened a new chapter after the arrest and Accused de Castillo in December.
Riot police run during clashes with supporters of ousted President Pedro Castillo outside Congress in Lima, Peru, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)
Castillo, who was narrowly elected in 2021 in a controversial poll electionhad sought to stay in power via a failure autogolpe (“coup”), attempting to dissolve the National Congress just before an impeachment vote was scheduled to be taken against it. Dissolving Congress would have prevented his impeachment. Instead, the police arrested him for unconstitutional acts and Congress officially stripped him of the presidency.
Castillo is currently portion 18 months in preventive prison and is charged with “rebellion” and conspiracy to abuse authority, potentially facing between ten and 20 years in prison if convicted.
Dina Boluarte, who served as Castillo’s vice president, was sworn in as Peru’s new president after Castillo’s arrest.
Castillo’s arrest immediately sets off a wave of ongoing deadly riots demanding his release in several parts of the country – the southern region of Puno being one of the most affected.
The protesters are supported by supporters of the former Marxist president as well as allies in the region, including other regional governments. The Peruvian authorities have denounced the presence of foreign leftists who allegedly entered Peru to incite rioters and promote separatism in Puno. A group of Peruvian lawmakers have officially accused far-left former Bolivian President Evo Morales of encouraging the protests in a bid to annex Puno to Bolivia.
Former Bolivian President Evo Morales gives a press conference regarding the rejection of his plan to run for senator in Buenos Aires, where he lives, Argentina, Friday, Feb. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)
On Tuesday, the Peruvian Congress granted a vote of confidence in Prime Minister Alberto Otárola and his cabinet of ministers in a mandatory process established by the nation’s constitution after 30 days have passed since a new government was sworn in. Failure to receive a vote of confidence would have instantly forced the Peruvian government to form a new cabinet.
During the event, Otárola responded to criticism from some lawmakers of alleged excessive use of force against leftist rioters.
“We are sure that the investigations that must be carried out will respect due process and the right to defense of the troops,” Otárola said, while affirming that his responsibility is to “achieve peace and tranquility for [Peru’s] 33 million inhabitants.
As of Wednesday, the rioters Continue to block the roads. Authorities have documented more than 300 police officers injured since the protests began in December. On Tuesday evening, a group of around 300 protesters from the Chamaca district overwhelmed a bus that was carrying police, forcing officers to evacuate the vehicle before protesters set it on fire.
Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States announcement Monday that he would send a delegation to Peru between January 11 and 13 to observe the human rights situation in the South American nation following the continuing wave of violent left-wing riots. President Dina Boularte encounter with the IACHR delegation on Wednesday morning.
#IACHR start observation visit a #Peru in the actual context. Del 11 al 13 de enero, la delegación liderada por el VicePdte. @StuardoRalon junto a Com. @JoelHernandezG meet with autoridades, with victims and familiars, and various sectors in Lima, Ica and Arequipa #CIDHInPeru pic.twitter.com/h5nutrJyz2
— IACHR – IACHR (@IACHR) January 11, 2023
Far-left Chilean President Gabriel Boric — who Pink highlighted during the leftist riots that took place in Chile in 2019 and then had to plead with the national left to stop the riots now that he is president – expressed his support for the IACHR delegation while condemning the actions of the Peruvian police via his Twitter account on Tuesday afternoon.
“It is unacceptable and painful to see the number of people who have died in clashes with the police in southern Peru. The state must always protect and respect human rights,” Boric wrote on Twitter. “Our support for the IACHR, which will visit the country to see the gravity of the situation.”
Es unacceptable y doloroso ver la cantidad de personas que han muerto en enfrentamientos con la policía en el sur del Perú.
El Estado debe siempre resguardar y respetar los DD.HH.
Nuestro apoyo a la @IACHR that visitará el país para ver la grave situación.— Police Gabriel Boric (@GabrielBoric) January 10, 2023
Christian K. Caruzo is a Venezuelan writer and documents life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
