Peru Prosecutor’s Office launches investigation over deadly protests
2023.01.11 03:46
Peru Prosecutor’s Office launches investigation over deadly protests
By Kristina Sobol
Budrigannews.com – On Tuesday, the top prosecutor’s office in Peru announced that it has initiated an investigation into Dina Boluarte, the new president, and members of her cabinet in relation to the violent clashes that have resulted in at least 40 deaths and hundreds of injuries since early December.
On the other hand, a vote of confidence in Congress was given to the new government by a large margin on Tuesday evening. A loss would have led to the resignation of Prime Minister Alberto Otarola and a reshuffle of the cabinet.
The most lethal day of protests since former President Pedro Castillo was ousted and detained a month ago prompts the investigation after 17 civilians were killed on Monday in the southern Puno region of the country. On Tuesday, the violence continued, and a police officer died when his car was set on fire.
On charges of “genocide, qualified homicide, and serious injuries,” the attorney general’s office said it was looking into Boluarte, Otarola, Defense Minister Jorge Chavez, and Interior Minister Victor Rojas.
Authorities have been accused of using firearms against protesters and dropping smoke bombs from helicopters, according to human rights groups. The army claims that protesters have used homemade explosives and weapons.
The attorney general’s office also said it would look into how the protests were handled by former Interior Minister Cesar Cervantes and former Prime Minister Pedro Angulo, both of whom only worked under Boluarte for a few weeks.
Both the ministers’ offices and the president’s office did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment.
A nationwide upsurge of protests has erupted since Castillo’s illegal attempt to dissolve Congress resulted in his removal. Castillo’s release, the resignation of Boluarte, the dissolution of Congress, and amendments to the constitution are among the demands made by protesters.
After a new prime minister takes office, the constitutionally mandated vote of confidence was passed with 73 votes in favor, 43 against, and 6 abstentions.
Otarola has attributed the deaths on Monday to organized attackers funded by “dark” money. There were also reports of injuries to 68 civilians and 75 police officers.
In an effort to stop the violence, Otarola also announced a three-day overnight curfew in Puno. Local media showed businesses in Puno being looted on Monday night, and the airport in Juliaca, a city in the region, remained closed on Tuesday after 9,000 people were said to have tried to break in.
On Tuesday, Peru’s ombudsman office pleaded for prosecutors to fully investigate the deaths and for peaceful protests.
The police officer’s death was described as “extreme violence” by the office, which claimed he had been tortured prior to his death. After what senior police commander Raul Alfaro referred to as an “ambush” by a mob in Juliaca, the officer, who was identified as Jose Luis Soncco, had passed away inside a burning vehicle.
Alfaro stated, “They burned him alive.”
The Ombudsman’s office also called on authorities to adhere to international standards regarding the use of force and condemned an arson attack on the residence of a Puno congressman in the city of Ilave, where family members were still inside.
On Tuesday, Castillo posted a tweet stating that those who were killed “defending the country from the coup dictatorship” will never be forgotten.
He has been told to stay in pre-trial detention while the investigation into his alleged charge of encouraging rebellion continues, which he denies. The former rural teacher claims he is still Peru’s legitimate president, despite serving less than two years of his five-year term.
Evo Morales, a Castillo ally who was barred from entering Peru on Monday, was the former president of Bolivia. He has also called for an end to what he calls the “genocide of our indigenous brothers.”
A mission from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights will assess the situation in Peru later this week. In the meantime, the United Nations has offered to mediate the conflict and urged respect for human rights.
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