The President of Peru, Dina Boluartedenied that there had been “extrajudicial executions” and “massacres” of protesters who took to the streets in anti-government protests earlier this year, as claimed by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in its latest report.
The head of state stated that “as in every report, there are issues that we do not share, but we respect them, moreover they come from the organs of the inter-American human rights system such as the Commission.”
However, he pointed out that he rejects “the alleged existence of extrajudicial executions and the qualification of massacres, even when it is conditionally mentioned in the events that happened during the protests”.
In its report on the human rights situation in Peru, The IACHR affirms that the state’s response to the protests that erupted after former President Pedro Castillo’s failed coup “was characterized by the disproportionate, indiscriminate and lethal use of force.”
It also condemns that there have been cases of “extrajudicial executions” in the Andean city of Ayacucho that “could result in serious violations of human rights.”
Boluarte explained that the deaths that occurred in the protests are being investigated by the competent judicial authorities and that it is “important” that these investigations move forward quickly in order to establish responsibilities.
For his part, he prime minister, Alberto Otárola, He indicated that “it does not seem consistent with the criteria of reasonableness and proportionality for the IACHR to conclude that there have been serious episodes of the use of force after only one interview and two visits to Peru.”
Boluarte welcomed the fact that the IACHR document is firm in its condemnation of the coup d’état he carried out former president Pedro Castillo December 7, 2022 and recognition of the regional body for the quick response of the Peruvian institutions to preserve the constitutional order and the rule of law on that date.
He emphasized that the country respects international obligations regarding human rights, which are “fundamental pillars” for the Government, and that for this reason, as soon as the protests began in December 2022, it invited the IACHR to the country to assess the situation.
The dissemination of the IACHR report caused angry reactions from the most conservative lawmakers, such as the first vice president of Congress, Fujimori’s Martha Moyano, who called the commission’s document “biased.”
“I personally wouldn’t listen to it, plain and simple, I wouldn’t take it into account,” Moyano told reporters after admitting he was not surprised by the IACHR’s conclusions because, he says, the institution is “deaf” to countries like Peru .
While, third vice-president of the parliament Alejandro Muñantefrom the ultraconservative party national renewalopined on Twitter that Peru “must withdraw all funds” from the IACHR “until a more plural and democratic composition is guaranteed that defends the human rights of all without exception.”
Former military and congressman José Cueto, also of Renovación Popular, was one of the most vocal against the IACHR report, saying “everything is biased” and criticizing that “there is no mention of deaths caused by blockades” of highways or the seizure of airports by protesters.
Source: Panama America
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
