Dila Boluarte, Peru’s president, will be charged for genocide given her handling of the current protests.
The Southern American country of Peru is engulfed in nation-wide protests which prompted an inquiry on the government’s actions. Peruvian attorney general Zoraida Avalos launched on Tuesday an investigation on the protests that includes top level authorities.
Under the accusation of genocide, qualified homicide and serious injuries, Peru’s newly appointed president Dina Boluarte will be investigated. Joining her will be Prime Minister Alberto Otarola, Defense Minister Jorge Chavez and Interior Minister Victor Rojas.
Peru is not the only Southern American nation going through massive protests against the government. Last Sunday, thousands of people stormed Brazil’s main public buildings demanding the resignation of Lula, himself a newly appointed president of his country.
Though protests in Brazil seem to have already calmed down, unrest in Peru seems to be just at the beginning. It erupted back in December when former president Pedro Castillo was arrested after an attempted coup.
Dina Boluarte, Castillo’s vice-president, took office immediately after his arrest. Castillo is being detained under charges of rebellion, though the public is on his side.
The protests erupted in favor of Pedro Castillo, demanding his release and the change in constitution. The epicenter of the protests is the Puno region, on the border with Bolivia.
The scale of the protests
Amid the protests 40 people have died, 17 on Monday alone, and 68 have been injured.
On Monday, 9.000 people stormed the Juliaca City airport and reports claim authorities have used live bullets on rioters as well as smoke bombs.
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Marta Hurtado said that Peruvian officials must “carry out prompt, impartial and effective investigations into the deaths and injuries, holding those responsible to account and ensuring victims receive access to justice and redress.”
But the violence did not stop there as 75 police officers have been injured as well, often in episodes of extreme brutality. One officer was tortured and then killed, while a congressman’s house was set on fire with his family still inside.
Puno’s government demanded Boluarte’s resignation while also announcing a curfew to try and placate the violence.
Many have defined the situation in Peru as a “warzone”, with authorities finding it increasingly difficult to control it.
Peru, despite its efforts on being a functional democracy, is no stranger to coups and rebellions. Other than Pedro Castillo, two other presidents declared the dissolution of congress in the last 20 years.
Castillo was also under charges of corruption and mismanagement and should have undergone a trial for impeachment precisely the day he attempted the coup.
The situation now is too unstable to know what is going to happen next.
