One day following the VII Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac)which took place this Tuesday in Buenos Aires, the political and social crisis affecting Peru continues to resonate as the main theme of the regional event, especially due to the statements made by President Gabriel Boric regarding him handling of protests in the neighboring country and the answer given in the same forum by the Peruvian Foreign Minister Ana Cecilia Gervasi.
During his participation in Celac, the Chilean president spoke regarding the serious situation that Peru is facing. In this sense, Boric asked the government of Dina Boluarte a “change of course” in the face of the “unacceptable” violence of the last month, in reference to the more than 50 deaths that have been registered since the anti-government protests resumed.
“we cannot be indifferent when today in our sister nation of Peru people who go out to march and demand what they consider just end up shot by who should defend them”, Boric indicated before the plenary of the block.
The Chilean President also referred to the arrests and images of the police intervention at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, in Lima. “It is also unacceptable that the universities of America relive the sad scenes of the times of dictatorships of the Southern Cone, as happened recently with the violent entry of the Police into the University of San Marcos,” he said.
He also stressed “the urgent need for a change of course in Peru”. “The balance that the path of repression and violence has left – following the failed self-coup of former President Pedro Castillo – is unacceptable,” he added.
In this regard, the Lima newspaper La República highlighted that it is not the first time that the Chilean president has expressed his concern regarding the serious state of Peru. On January 10, he lamented the loss of life in the south of the country and called on the Peruvian State to respect and protect human rights.
“It is unacceptable and painful to see the number of people who have died in clashes with the police in southern Peru. The State must always protect and respect human rights. Our support for the IACHR (Inter-American Commission on Human Rights) that will visit the country to see the serious situation, ”he wrote on Twitter at that time.
Complaints to which the Peruvian Foreign Minister responded during her speech at Celac. In her speech, following Boric’s, at the regional forum, Ana Cecilia Gervasi made reference to the declarations of some leaders of neighboring countries on the situation in Peru and indicated that it is “false” and “offensive” insinuate that the government of Dina Boluarte has authorized the violent repression of social protests.
“It is false and offensive to suggest, as has been mentioned today (Tuesday), that the government has authorized the violent repression of those who protest. I reaffirm in this forum our commitment to the preservation of democratic values and principles and to the full and unrestricted validity of human rights and the rule of law”, he stated.
Likewise, Gervasi questioned that “some governments, from particularly close countries, have not accompanied Peru in this difficult institutional situation and, rather, have prioritized ideological affinity, unequivocal support for the rule of law and constitutional succession,” “seeking establish a distorted narrative”, in relation to expressions expressed around the protests.
He also stated that the principles of non-interference and non-intervention in the internal affairs of countrieswhich are part of the founding and current documents of Celac, such as the Declaration of Buenos Aires, approved within the framework of the summit. “Peru urges the member states (of Celac) to fully comply“said the chancellor.