Peru’s foreign minister, Ana Cecilia Gervasi, has acknowledged that the Andean authorities do not have evidence to ensure that the anti-government demonstrations of recent weeks are being driven by criminal groups, as did the country’s president, Dina Boluarte.
«We do not have any evidence (…) But I am sure that we will have that evidence very soon», admitted Gervasi during an interview for the newspaper ‘The New York Times’, where he took the opportunity to reiterate Boluarte’s message and to speculate that the demonstrators «are being financed».
Boluarte launched at the end of January a speech to the nation in which he warned that what happened in the streets of Peru «is not a peaceful protest», but «a violent action generated by a group of radical people» linked to «drug trafficking, illegal mining and smuggling».
Tens of thousands of Peruvians have taken to the streets of the country’s main cities to demand the departure of Bularte and the calling of new elections after the dismissal and arrest of former president Pedro Castillo, who in early December tried to arrogate to himself more powers by dissolving Parliament and declaring a government of exception.
Since then, about 60 people have lost their lives due to the response of the security forces, an issue that Gervasi herself has clarified during her interview with the U.S. newspaper to emphasize that the Government in no case gave orders to the Police or the Army to shoot at demonstrators.
Finally, Gervasi has defended the good work of Boluarte -former ‘number two’ of Castillo and on whom all eyes are now focused- and has praised her attempt to call early elections, thus complying with the demands of part of the population, which accuses her of being a usurper.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
