A group of Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives has asked President Joe Biden to suspend all security cooperation with Peru due to the government’s «pattern of repression» of the protests that have been taking place in the country for almost two months.
Through a letter sent on Monday, the group of democrats denounced the «indiscriminate violence» and the «constant and excessive use of force» to repress the protests of those demanding early elections, the departure of President Dina Boluarte, the release of former President Pedro Castillo and the creation of a constituent assembly to modify the Constitution.
In this sense, the twenty democrats who signed the letter ask President Biden to publicly denounce «the continuous violations against Human Rights» and to pressure the Peruvian Government to respect the right to legitimate peaceful protest and due process.
As a consequence of this «worsening» political situation, they urge Biden to temporarily suspend all security assistance funds until it is clear that not only has the repression, which has so far left nearly 60 people dead, ended, but that those responsible will be held accountable.
The letter notes that the protests, which began with a call for Castillo’s release, have expanded into calls for «far-reaching political changes,» noting that those involved are «low-income Peruvians and rural indigenous people.»
«Peruvian security forces have responded to the mostly peaceful protests with arbitrary and disproportionate use of force,» says the letter, which mentions episodes such as the «violent and arbitrary raid» on student residences at Lima’s San Marcos University on Jan. 22.
«An unprecedented action in Peru’s recent democratic history,» which «underscores the urgent need for a forceful response from the United States,» reads a letter which, while acknowledging the presence of «a small number» of violent protesters, reproaches Boluarte for not distinguishing between demonstrators and increasing tensions by labeling everyone as «terrorists.»
At the same time, they have conveyed to Biden the concern among the signatories for the last meeting held by the outgoing US Ambassador to Peru, Lisa Kenna, with the Minister of Defense, Jorge Chavez, and the announcement of another eight million dollars for the Peruvian Government’s coca eradication program, since these funds finance «the forces involved in the atrocious violations of Human Rights that are currently taking place».
«We believe that the actions we propose would send a powerful signal of support for fundamental rights and help promote an effective commitment to a political resolution,» the letter closes.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)