Peru protests: Amnesty accuses Peruvian authorities of acting with ‘racist bias’ against protesters

CNN
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Amnesty International has charged Peruvian government about acting with “clearly racist bias” in the crackdown on protests that have roiled the country since December, saying that “population groups have historically been discriminated against.” history” is being targeted, according to a report released Thursday.

Based on data from the Peruvian Ombudsman’s Office, Amnesty said it “found that arbitrary numbers of deaths possibly due to state repression” were “disproportionately concentrated in areas of areas where the majority of the population is indigenous”.

Amnesty also says that areas with an indigenous majority have accounted for most of the deaths since the protests began. Amnesty writes: “Although the indigenous-majority areas represent only 13% of the total population of Peru, they account for 80% of all deaths recorded since the crisis began.

The Defense Department declined to comment on the report, telling CNN there is an investigation being carried out by the prosecutor’s office of the country with which it is cooperating.

“We not only provide all the requested information, but also assist in transferring staff (prosecutors) (experts and prosecutors) to the site for them to do their jobs. The Ministry of Defense is awaiting the results of the investigation,” the ministry spokesman added.

CNN has also reached out to the Interior Department, the police watchdog, for comment.

The Andean nation’s weeklong protest movement, which seeks to completely re-establish the government, was sparked by the impeachment and arrest of former President Pedro Castillo in December and is fueled by discontent. deeply about living conditions and inequality in the country.

While protests raged across the country, the worst violence occurred in the rural and indigenous south, which see Castillo’s ouster as yet another attempt by Peru’s coastal elites. to bring them down.

“Amid great political unrest, the first manifestations of social unrest have emerged from some of the most marginalized areas of Peru, such as Apurímac, Ayacucho and Puno, where the majority Large numbers of indigenous populations have historically suffered from discrimination, unequal access to political participation and ongoing discrimination. fighting for access to basic rights to health, housing and education,” Amnesty wrote.

Protests have spread to other parts of the country, and protesters’ fury has also grown with the growing death toll: As of Tuesday, at least 60 people had died in the violence, according to the report. Office of the Inspector of Peru, including a police officer.

Castillo’s successor, President Dina Boluarte, has so far refused to step down, while Peru’s National Assembly rejected a proposal for early elections this year – one of the protesters’ main demands.

The human rights group accused security forces of using lethal ammunition “as one of the main methods of dispersing protests, even when there is no obvious risk to the lives of others.” – violation of international human rights standards.

Amnesty says it has recorded 12 deaths where “all of the victims appear to have been shot in the chest, torso or head, which may indicate, in some cases, intentional use of lethal force.”

There were also instances of violence by some protesters, with the use of rocks, fireworks and homemade slingshots. CNN previously reported on the death of a policeman who was burned to death by protesters. Citing Health Department figures, Amnesty found that “more than 1,200 people were injured during the protests and 580 police officers were injured.”

But overall, the police and military responded disproportionately, firing “ammunition indiscriminately and in some cases at specific targets, killing or injuring bystanders, protesters and other people.” first aid for the injured,” Amnesty said.

It cites the death of 18-year-old student John Erik Enciso Arias, who died on December 12 in the town of Andahuaylas, Apurímac region, where residents gathered to observe and film the protests. Erik’s death was confirmed by the Peruvian inspector.

According to Amnesty, “video clips and eyewitness accounts suggest that several police officers fired bullets from the rooftop of a hill front building that day. State officials have confirmed to Amnesty International a police presence on the rooftop, and the organization has verified footage that shows John Erik did not use violence against police when he did. was killed.”

In another incident, as CNN previously reported, Leonardo Hancco, 32, died after being shot in the stomach near Ayacucho airport, where protesters had gathered with some trying to gain power runway control.

“Witnesses indicate that the armed forces fired live ammunition for at least seven hours in and around the airport, sometimes chasing protesters or shooting towards those helping the wounded, Amnesty International said in a statement about its investigation into the December 15 incident.

CNN has not verified the circumstances of each death as Amnesty describes it.

The report also cited the deaths of 17 civilians, who were killed during a protest in the southeastern region of Puno on January 9, “where a large proportion of the indigenous population is concentrated,” the report said. write.

Head of the city’s legal health department told CNN en Español that autopsies of 17 dead civilians found gunshot wounds.

“It was the Attorney General’s office that declared that the deaths were caused by gunfire, triggering one of the most tragic and disturbing events in the country,” Amnesty wrote.

“The serious human rights crisis that Peru is facing has been fueled by the stigma, criminalization and racism against indigenous peoples and campesino (rural workers) communities, who today now take to the streets to exercise their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and respond with violence. punished,” Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s Americas Director, said in a statement.

“Widespread attacks against civilians have implications for the individual criminal responsibility of the authorities, including those at the highest levels, for their actions and omissions in stopping the unrest. suppress.”