Peru accuses Mexico of interference in internal affairs after Castillo ouster
CNN
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The Mexican Ambassador to Lima was summoned by of Peru Mexico’s foreign ministry has complained that Mexico is interfering in its internal affairs, after top officials weighed in on the ouster of former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo earlier this week.
Castillo, who was sacked Wednesday after attempting to dissolve the Peruvian Congress and call for new elections, was arrested while traveling to the Mexican embassy, according to Peruvian prosecutors.
Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard later said that Castillo had applied for asylum and that Mexican President Lopez Obrador had criticized the Peruvian elite, calling for the protection of the human rights of the ousted president.
Lopez Obrado also said he directed Ambassador Pablo Monroy to “open the embassy” to Castillo. Monroy is said to have met Castillo on Thursday.
A statement from Peru’s foreign ministry on Friday said “the Mexican authorities’ comments are an interference in Peru’s internal affairs and do not reflect the events of recent days.”
It added that “the comments made by these (Mexico) agencies regarding asylum rights requested by former President Castillo,[we]informed Ambassador Monroy that states need to follow all regulations established in applicable international treaties and comply with all requirements. ”
It also emphasizes “mutual respect and norms of international law,” as well as the “long tradition of friendship” between Mexico and Peru.
In his tweet, Ebrard shared a copy of the letter that appeared to be signed by Castillo’s attorney on Thursday.
“I am honored to speak with you, and in light of the latest political events that have occurred in this country that you know in great detail, I ask you to consider granting refugee status to citizen Pedro. José Castillo Terrones,” the letter read.
Ebrard said his government has “started consultations with the Peruvian authorities” and confirmed that Monroy had met with Castillo.
Ebrard said: “He finds he is healthy and is staying with his lawyer.
On the same day, Mexico’s leftist President Obrador told journalists that Castillo had tried to go to the Mexican embassy in Lima to seek asylum.
“I contacted Marcelo Ebrard and I informed him. I asked him to speak to the ambassador (Monroy) and open the embassy in accordance with our refugee tradition,” the president told journalists. “We ask to respect his human rights.”
“We regret what has happened because since Pedro Castillo won, legally, legally, he has been the victim of harassment, confrontation, his enemies, especially especially the economic and political elites of that country, didn’t accept his rule, among others everything, and that’s what I regret most,” he added.
Asked on Friday morning if she would agree to speak with Lopez Obrador on the matter and provide a safe passage for Castillo, new Peruvian President Dina Boluarte told journalists she would comply. law.
“I always obey the law. We will follow the asylum law in the case of the former President and his family, that needs to come from the Mexican government.”
Castillo is currently in a seven-day preliminary arrest by order of the Supreme Court on Thursday.
His arrest marked a humiliating decline in Castillo’s brief political career. The former teacher and union leader rose from the shadows to be elected in July 2021 by a narrow margin in the vote. and is seen as part of the “pink tide” of new leftist leaders in Latin America.
He ran on a platform that promised to rewrite the constitution and increase the redistribution of wealth by giving nations greater control over markets and natural resources, pledging that he fought struggling to deal with the rising inflation in Peru, his lack of political experience and strong opposition from conservatives in Congress.