Drug trafficking financing is behind massive protests in Peru that began in December 2022 following the ouster of President Pedro Castillo, Peru’s interim president Dina Boluarte said at a briefing. This was reported on March 21 by TVPerú Noticias.
Boluarte delivered a speech in the Ayacucho region, where at least 10 people were killed by authorities during an anti-government protest. According to her, these mobilizations began “at the expense of the budget of drug trafficking and illegal immigrants”.
“After Mr. Castillo’s coup, we saw a high-profile coup that killed more than 60 people with the budget of drug trafficking. Since they couldn’t break us, they now intend to involve me in corrupt activities.”she said.
However, so far, no state body in Peru has provided any evidence that the protests have received illegal financing. In fact, Foreign Minister Ana Cecilia Gervasi acknowledged this in an interview with The New York Times last February.
At the same time, The New York Times presented an investigation showing that the majority of deaths during protests are associated with state repression. However, the government denies these accusations.
Let us remember that on December 7, 2022, a right-wing coup took place in Peru, as a result of which the country’s congress dismissed the leftist leader Pedro Castillo, who was arrested and imprisoned after the announcement of the dissolution of the congress.
Congress, which impeached the legitimately elected president Castillo, appointed Prime Minister Dina Boluarte as president. After the coup, massive protests began in different regions of Peru, during which, according to various sources, some 70 people died. The demonstrators demand the release of Castillo, the dissolution of congress, the resignation of Boluarte and the holding of early elections.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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