The UN asks the Peruvian government for information about its actions during the protests: what are its requirements?

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights announced that it has received information about the “excessive use of force” during protests who left a residue about 60 deaths from December 7 last year, the dates when mobilization in the country.

In a letter sent to the representative of the Permanent Mission of Peru to the UN, Luis Juan Chuquiuaraessence United Nations asked Chancellor Ana Gervasi to send a document signed seven rapporteurs of this bodyin which they ask peruvian government comment on the following complaints.

In the document, they state excessive use of force that it resulted in “a large number of unlawful deaths”, alleged misuse of criminal terrorism against demonstrators, allegedly arbitrary arrests; and a case of enforced disappearance, stigmatization and due process violations against Protestants since they started marches at the national level.

They also claim to have received information about the existence of a large number of people natives and farmerswho “appear to have been detained allegedly arbitrary And killingsas well as lack of security health care promptly in connection with the facts.”

In a letter rapporteurs of the international organization indicate that since the beginning of the demonstrations Peruvian state would respond by deploying Armed forces And National Policeand that within this framework there was a disproportionate use of force during protests, acts of violence, mass arrests, the use of tear gas, and violence against the media.

“There have been reports that the methods used by the social forces have led to extrajudicial executions and allegedly arbitrary detentions of demonstrators and human rights defenders; as well as reports of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of people held in police stations or in detention of one type or another,” the report says.

They also note that they have information about the special affectation of children and adolescents; especially teenagers and young students, as part of the protests.

“Civil society organizations indicate that the state used various strategies to obstruct peaceful protests, such as the excessive use of tear gas, excessive police and military presence, and attacks,” they repeat.

The High Commissioner listed the acts of violence at the demonstrations

The letter also listed acts of violence that took place in the context of the protests, from the deaths that took place in Puno to the raid on the headquarters of the National University of the Mayor of San Marcos (UNAMS).

For example, speakers remember that clashes between police officers And protesters which were reported in Apurimac between 11 and 12 December, remained six civilians diedc, all under the age of 19, in addition, 54 people were injured, including six as a result of “exposure to firearms”.

Another incident the situation mentioned in the document ayacucho two weeks in December, when ten people, including a minor, were killed in clashes outside Alfredo Mendiville Airport.

Then clashes on January 9, 2023 in the city of Juliaca, in Puno, where the most violent day of demonstrations took place, involving at least 19 deaths, among them a doctor who assisted the victim, and a policeman who was attacked by a crowd. On that day, the document emphasizes, they also reported 112 wounded.

With regard to the above facts, they recall that on 24 January, President Dina Boluarte called for public service to advance the investigation into people killed and wounded during the demonstrations, pointing out that the death of 9 January in Fist They would not have been called by the police, but by “people not connected to the security forces”.

“However, an investigation based on autopsy reports and forensic analysis would show that all deaths in Puno were caused by gunshot wounds,” the document says.

In addition, they mention police intervention in National University of San Marcos for the eviction of delegations of regional demonstrations, and in which they were detained for approximately 192 people.

“The police operation would have been carried out without the presence of the prosecutors of the Ministry of Health, who would have arrived in about three hours. Human rights organizations, lawyers, family members and journalists would not have been able to access the campus after police intervention,” they argue.

They ask the state to conduct “effective” and “impartial” investigations.

Expressing concern about the situation in the country in the context of the socio-political crisis, United Nations Special Rapporteurs They noted that the allegations appear to “contradict the minimum standards set by the UN for the use of force by law enforcement officials.”

“The use of force, especially lethal force, must comply with the fundamental principles of legality, necessity and proportionality,” they argue.

For this reason, they emphasize that State is required to “conduct comprehensive, prompt, effective, impartial and independent investigations into alleged human rights violations committed by the police while monitoring protests.” “

So they reminded peruvian government that the autopsy People allegedly killed must be carried out in strict accordance with the standards set out in the revised version of the United Nations Manual for Effectively Preventing and Investigating Extra-legal, Arbitrary or Summary Executions (Minnesota Protocol to Investigate Potentially Wrongful Deaths, 2016).