New criteria and evidence provided by international observers underline the magnitude of the institutional repression in Peru during the protests for the overthrow of former president Pedro Castillo and in favor of early elections.
By Roberto Morejón
New criteria and evidence provided by international observers underline the magnitude of the institutional repression in Peru during the protests for the overthrow of former president Pedro Castillo and in favor of early elections.
The International Solidarity and Human Rights Mission, made up of Argentine political, social and trade union figures, submitted a devastating report on the reality of the situation in Peru.
In addition to raising what they considered an erroneous dismissal of Castillo, the visitors said they saw in Peru an unusual deployment and ostentation of forces and recommended investigating that State for incurring in crimes against humanity.
Other international entities and journalists, unlike the mainstream press in Lima, converged on similar criteria.
The Peruvian army and police attacked demonstrations of popular discontent since last December 7, and claimed the lives of some 60 people, many of them while they were demanding the resignation of the president-designate, Dina Boluarte.
The president, who claims not to have given orders to attack civilians, thus raised serious doubts.
Peruvians point out that if her assertions are true, she should specify who gave the orders to massacre them.
Ayacucho, Juliaca, Puno, Apurimac are some of the regions where dozens of people died at the hands of the uniformed, who launched, in collusion with the press, the idea that the marchers were terrorists.
While feverishly repeating this ruse, the right-wing leadership that controls the Congress and the vacillating government of Boluarte dodge the accusations that the majority of the victims during the protests have been poor people, preferably indigenous and peasants.
The relatives come from the provinces with few financial resources and little education to defend themselves in legal terms against the outrages committed.
Faced with them, the Lima elites stood up with all their might, determined to wear down those who were marching through the streets.
The right-wing-dominated congressional leadership is acting with the same purpose, taking advantage of the crisis to pass bills in a short period of time and shelve others of popular interest.
It is not by chance that the legislature and the president-designate are dragging a huge disapproval, although they do not seem to care, as they feel backed by force.
