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Peru - January 2023

Dina Boluarte faces inquiry over protesters’ deaths

Since former President Pedro Castillo’s impeachment and arrest on 7 December, mass protests to demand his release and early elections have partially paralysed parts of the country, some of them escalating into violent clashes with security forces. President Dina Boluarte faces an inquiry launched by Peru’s top prosecutor related to the excessive use of force and deaths of protesters and Castillo supporters. The inquiry, which focuses on crimes such as qualified homicide and genocide, will also include investigations into top cabinet members.  

In the weeks following Castillo’s impeachment, protests had mainly been concentrated in the Andean region. On 9 January, particularly violent clashes with security forces left dozens of deaths in the country’s southeast. On 19 January, thousands of anti-government protestors from all over the country assembled in the capital, Lima, to demand Boluarte’s resignation.  On 21 January, authorities raided Lima’s San Marcos University, detaining nearly 200 people for aggravated encroachment, including students, after anti-government protestors had taken shelter in the facilities. 

Since Boluarte took office, and up until the end of January, at least 65 people had died in the context of protests. While Boluarte has repeatedly asked Congress to call for early elections, such an initiative has stalled in the legislative branch, and she has refused to resign.    

Sources: La Nacion, El Pais, El Pais (2), The Guardian, British Broadcasting Corporation

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