The NGO Human Right Watch (HRW) has called on Peru’s judicial authorities to conduct «immediate, thorough and independent» investigations into the at least 21 deaths of protesters during clashes with Peruvian security forces following the ouster of former president Pedro Castillo.
According to the organization, Peru’s justice system should investigate the «killings of protesters» as well as allegations of excessive use of force by the country’s police and military.
«The violence committed during the protests should be investigated, but it does not justify the excessive use of force by the security forces, which can endanger people’s health and lives,» said HRW’s director for Latin America, Juanita Goebertus.
«Peruvian authorities should prioritize dialogue and respect for human rights in the search for a solution to the current political crisis in the country,» she added.
The Peruvian Ombudsman’s Office has so far reported 21 deaths – although the balance amounts to 26, according to reports from the health services of the different departments – including four children.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, at least 12 people have been «probably» killed by firearms, pending the results of the autopsy. Among them are nine people who died in an area of Ayacucho where military personnel armed with assault rifles were deployed.
In that case, the Peruvian Armed Forces claimed that a patrol used «force,» without specifying what form the forced response took, in response to what authorities described as an attack by «a mob» armed with homemade weapons and other objects, according to the NGO.
In addition to the deaths, the Ombudsman’s Office has reported that 356 protesters and 290 police have been injured as of December 18. Of these, 38 people remained hospitalized as of December 20, including eight in serious condition, according to the Peruvian Health Ministry.
All this has taken place as a result of the protests that began on December 7, when the then president of Peru, Pedro Castillo, announced the dissolution of Congress and the establishment of an emergency government, only to be dismissed by Parliament a few hours later through a motion of censure.
After his dismissal, Castillo was arrested by his own security guards, who took him to the Directorate of Special Operations (Diroes) of the Peruvian National Police, in the outskirts of Lima.
It was then that Dina Boluarte was sworn in as president of Peru, and days later declared a 30-day state of emergency throughout the country due to the protests, suspending some basic rights such as freedom of association or allowing the deployment of the army to «support» the police in maintaining order in public places.
Meanwhile, HRW has highlighted that, while thousands of people have marched peacefully throughout the country, some protesters have thrown stones at the police, attacked health personnel, set fire to public prosecutors’ offices and other public and private buildings, as well as looting businesses.
«The National Association of Journalists of Peru reported 47 aggressions against reporters covering the demonstrations and media, 90 percent by demonstrators and the rest by police,» the NGO has recalled, also highlighting the blocking of roads across the country for several days at the hands of protesters.
Therefore, the organization has appealed to the participants in the demonstrations, recalling that the right to peaceful protest «does not include preventing the passage of ambulances, medical supplies and other emergency services».
It has also called on the Prosecutor General’s Office to conduct «immediate, thorough and independent» investigations into «the killings» of protesters, injuries suffered by protesters and police, as well as other acts of violence during the protests.
«Specialized human rights prosecutors should lead investigations into possible abuses by the police or armed forces,» Human Rights Watch urged.
Meanwhile, the organization has called on the international community to support Peruvians in upholding the rule of law and democratic principles.»
«They should send a clear message to the Peruvian authorities about the need for effective civilian investigations into the killings of protesters and for a peaceful solution to the political crisis that takes into account the legitimate concerns of citizens,» said HRW’s Latin America director.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
