By Countercurrents Collective
People’s mobilizations in Peru continued Tuesday in many areas. The protesting people reiterated the demand for the closure of Congress, the release of former President Pedro Castillo, resignation of acting President Dina Boluarte and the holding of new elections.
Citing community media, a teleSUR report said:
Protests that have taken place in Peru included Plaza San Martin, downtown Lima (capital), Lambayeque, Cusco, Ica, Tacna, and other regions.
The Ombudsman’s Office rectified the number of deaths after the National Police repression of the demonstrations. It indicated that a total of six deaths had been confirmed so far.
“The Ombudsman’s Office wishes to inform the public that there are six and not seven people dead in the context of the protests taking place in the country,” the agency said, adding that among the victims are two teenagers.
During the last days of demonstrations, many sections of the people have denounced police repression against peaceful protests.
teleSUR’s correspondent in Jaime Herrera, Peru reported:
The Plaza San Martin, an emblematic venue during demonstrations, “has been taken over by the Police.”
“More than 2,000 police officers are preventing the people who are gathered here from being able to meet inside this square,” he said.
On this day, the Peruvian Judiciary also announced that the Permanent Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court rejected the appeal presented by former president Castillo against the preliminary detention issued against him for the alleged crime of rebellion.
The crisis in Peru has increased after Congress approved, last December 7, Castillo’s vacancy and swore in Dina Boluarte as the new president.
The measure was executed after Castillo declared the temporary dissolution of Congress, called elections for its renewal, decreed the establishment of an emergency government and a national curfew.
Peru’s President Castillo Says He Will Be Released Wednesday, Even After Judge Denies Appeal
An optimistic statement by Peru’s imprisoned president is likely to give hope to the tens of thousands of largely indigenous demonstrators who’ve taken to the streets since the leader was detained by security forces after attempting to dissolve the country’s extraordinarily unpopular legislature.
The embattled President of Peru, Pedro Castillo, issued a statement insisting he’ll be released Wednesday, even after a judge denied his appeal and demanded the head of state remain in detention amid what’s being widely characterized as a parliamentary coup.
“Compatriots: tomorrow, Wednesday, December 14, seven days have passed since an unjust and abusive detention,” Castillo wrote in a statement published on his Twitter page. “Seven days in which the people have shown me their solidarity and commitment in defense of our government and its future. Tomorrow at 1:42 p.m. I will go free.”
Peru has been rocked by massive demonstrations this week calling for Castillo to be released from jail and for the dissolution of Congress, which currently holds an approval rating of just 10%.
Tensions in the Andean nation continue to grow, with thousands of largely-indigenous protesters having seized major highways – as well as the airport in Arequipa, the second-most populous city in the country.
Prosecutors are seeking to sentence Castillo to three years in prison for “the alleged crime of rebellion.” He’s been kept under lock and key since security forces detained him on Dec. 7 after he attempted to head off a third congressional impeachment attempt by dissolving the historically-unpopular legislative body.
The armed forces and police of Peru initially issued an ambiguous statement but subsequently moved to detain Castillo, who was reportedly handed over by his driver to a SWAT team as he sought political asylum at the Mexican embassy.
The U.S. State Department immediately leapt to the defense of the new regime, with Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols writing just a day later that “we applaud Peruvians as they unite in support of their democracy,” and that “the U.S. welcomes President Boluarte and looks forward to working with her administration to achieve a more democratic, prosperous, and secure region.”
But neighboring governments in Argentina, Colombia, Bolivia and Mexico are insisting that Castillo be released, describing the Peruvian president as the victim of “anti-democratic persecution.” On Tuesday, they issued a joint statement expressing their “deep concern” regarding the situation, which they described as an effort to “reverse the popular will expressed with free suffrage.”
The governments called for Castillo’s human rights to be respected, and reiterated that they continue to recognize Castillo as the legitimate president of Peru.
The government of Honduras also expressed alarm at the “serious constitutional breach.” Hours after Castillo was arrested, the Honduran foreign ministry conveyed its “strong condemnation of the coup d’état that took place in Peru,” which it said is “the result of a series of events to erode democracy.”
Police Repression Leaves 7 Peruvians Dead
Another teleSUR report said:
On Monday, the Peruvian police harshly repressed massive protests against President Dina Boluarte and the Congress, leaving seven dead and hundreds injured.
“These have been two very unfortunate days with a balance of seven people dead… two of them were minors. All died as a result of shots,” said Eliana Revollar, the Ombudsman.
“We are asking for the investigation of these cases, which are really useless deaths because this would not have happened if the decisions had been made in due time,” she added, emphasizing that the Peruvian crisis needs a political solution.
The most violent clashes are taking place in the south of the country, specifically in the departments of Arequipa and Apurimac, which have become the epicenter of protests.
In Andahuaylas, the demonstrators attacked 14 police stations and one police headquarters, where the troops were attacked with hunt-made explosives.
In Lima, citizens attacked the headquarters of the Public Ministry and the facilities of the America and Panamericana television channels.
In an attempt to control the social upheaval, Boluarte decreed a 60-day state of emergency on Monday in seven provinces of Apurimac. Her decision suspends constitutional rights related to the inviolability of the home, freedom of transit through the territory, freedom of assembly, and personal freedom and security.
The protests began on Dec. 7 when Congress appointed Boluarte as president after removing Pedro Castillo, who is being held in a prison accused of rebellion and conspiracy.
Farmers, Indigenous peoples, and students announced a national strike that will begin on Tuesday to demand the closure of Congress and the start of a constituent process.
Only 10% of Peruvians Approve The Congress An earlier report said:
On November 27, the results of the Institute of Peruvian Studies (IEP) show: 86% of the people in Peru disapprove performance of the Congress of the Republic. This means that only 10% approve and the rest do not know or have an opinion.
In addition, it was learned that José Williams, president of Parliament, also surpasses Pedro Castillo in negative perception. 68% of the country disapproves of his performance. Only 14% approve.
A few weeks ago, parliamentarian Norma Yarrow spoke loud and clear about her position and indicated to the media that she agrees that new presidential elections should be held in Peru.
“We want there to be new elections, for everyone to leave with the changes to the Constitution that there must be and new elections. We need peace in this country,” the legislator told RPP Noticias.
Map Of The Roads And Highways Blocked By The Protesters
The main roads of Peru have been taken over by protesters demanding new general elections. The north, center and south of Peru have registered one of the biggest traffic blockades of the year and the Peruvian National Police (PNP) shared an official report for the country’s residents.
These are more than 8 cities in which road blockades have been registered. In the case of some regions there are up to 10 routes taken by the strikers.
In this sense, Alberto Otárola , Minister of Defense, reported that the National Road Network is declared in emergency , to ensure the free transit of all Peruvians and so that they can adequately exercise the rights that the constitution guarantees them.
The south of the country is the one with the greatest number of roads intercepted by protesters. Know what they are:
Arequipa
– km. 51 Via Arequipa – Puno.
– km. 617 Chala Caraveli Arequipa.
– km. 900 at the height of Vaso Regulador de Agua, crossing with San Camilo.
– km. 921 and KM 925 from Alto Ingreso to Pedregal.
– km. 966 South Pan-American Highway, intersection with La Joya.
– km. 969 South Pan-American Highway at the height of Leche Gloria.
– KM.782 South Pan-American Highway (Ocoña Bridge).
– km. 907 Majes junction on the Panamericana Sur.
Map of roads blocked in Peru due to strike. (PNP)
The protesters have not only taken the roads , but have also taken over and looted some establishments such as the Gloria Milk Plant. In addition, they set fire to part of the dairy company’s facilities. The same thing happened with a bank branch in Arequipa.
4 Countries’ Joint Statement On The Situation In Peru
Following is the joint statement of the government s of Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia and Mexico:
The governments of the Argentine Republic, the Republic of Colombia, the United Mexican States and the Plurinational State of Bolivia express their deep concern over the recent events that resulted in the removal and detention of José Pedro Castillo Terrones, President of the Republic of Peru.
It is not news to the world that President Castillo Terrones, from the day of his election, was the victim of undemocratic harassment, in violation of Article 23 of the American Convention on Human Rights, “Costa Rica Pact”, approved on November 22 of 1969, to later be subject to judicial treatment in the same way, in violation of article 25 of the aforementioned convention.
Our governments call on all the actors involved in the previous process to prioritize the will of the citizens that was pronounced at the polls. It is the way of interpreting the scope and meanings of the notion of democracy contained in the Inter-American System of Human Rights. We urge those who make up the institutions to refrain from reversing the popular will expressed with free suffrage.
We request that the authorities fully respect the human rights of President Pedro Castillo and that he be guaranteed judicial protection under the terms enshrined in the last cited article.
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14 December 2022
Source: countercurrents.org