Peru’s Attorney General Launches Investigation Into President and Key Ministers Following Deadly Clashes

1: peru’s top prosecutor has launched an inquiry into president dina boluarte and key ministers following weeks of clashes that have left dozens of people dead. the violence began when ex-president pedro castillo was arrested in december for trying to dissolve congress, and on monday, 17 people died in clashes between castillo supporters and security forces in the city of juliaca in south-eastern peru. dozens more were injured in what was the worst day of violence so far.

2: the authorities accused the protesters of trying to overrun juliaca’s airport and a local police station, and an overnight curfew was put in place in the region. on tuesday, the attorney general’s office announced its decision to investigate ms boluarte, as well as prime minister alberto otárola along with the defence and interior ministers. castillo supporters, many of whom are poor indigenous peruvians, say president boluarte must resign, snap elections be held and the former president released.

3: the south american nation has been through years of political turmoil, with the latest crisis coming to a head when mr castillo announced he was dissolving congress and introducing a state of emergency in december. but congress proceeded to vote overwhelmingly to impeach him. the former president is being investigated on charges of rebellion and conspiracy, while officials are being investigated on charges of “genocide, qualified homicide and serious injuries”. mr castillo, a left-winger, tweeted from his prison cell, saying those defending peru from what he called the coup dictatorship would never be forgotten.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-64232230?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

By Evey Lovelace

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