Statement rejecting the institutional coup and the unprecedented violence against the population in Peru
El CLACSO Working Group Political Ecology(ies) from the South/Abya Yala This statement denounces the nefarious actions carried out by powerful groups entrenched in the Congress of the Republic of Peru. This Congress declared the impeachment of former President Martín Vizcarra for acts that have not yet been tried or sentenced, rendering the impeachment request unconstitutional and amounting to a coup d'état. In this context, the vast majority of congressmen voted in favor of impeachment. Indeed, these congressmen sought to maintain their impunity; many of them (68) are currently under investigation for corruption, and others own private universities whose licenses were revoked for failing to meet required quality standards. These congressmen intended to halt reforms to the justice system, the university system, and the fight against corruption, and to replace the members of the Constitutional Court.
Thus, Congress appointed Manuel Merino, a man of dubious character, as President of the Republic of Peru, Antero Flores-Araoz (co-responsible for the repression and murder of indigenous people in 2009, known as the Bagua massacre) as Prime Minister, and several ministers from the business class to form his government team. The indignation of the Peruvian people was immediate, and crowds took to the streets throughout the country to protest the grave breakdown of democracy.
The response of the de facto government was violent and disproportionate, causing the death by gunshot (so far) of two young people, leaving dozens injured, some seriously, and more than 40 missing.
From the CLACSO Working Group Political Ecology(ies) from the South/Abya Yala We raise our voices and reject the institutional coup and the unprecedented violence perpetrated against the population by the police forces, a population already severely affected by unemployment, disease, poverty, and the uncertainty caused by the pandemic. More than 1.5 million Peruvians have lost their jobs, and more than 70,000 have died as a result of the pandemic and a virtually nonexistent public health system. We urge a peaceful resolution to the crisis that respects human rights, dignity, and socio-environmental justice.
We call upon the current Congress to respect the democratic system, respect the reforms of the judicial and university systems, continue the fight against corruption, respect the Constitutional Court, respect the general elections of April 2021, appoint congressmen endorsed by the Peruvian people, desist from all violent responses against protesters, respect the right to peaceful protest, and investigate and punish those responsible for the repression and murders of protesters.
In defense of life, yes we can!
All our support to the struggle of the Peruvian people.
November 16th 2020
CLACSO Working Group
Political ecology(ies) from the South/Abya Yala
This statement expresses the position of the Working Group Political ecology(ies) from the South/Abya Yala and not necessarily that of the centers and institutions that make up the CLACSO international network, its Steering Committee or its Executive Secretariat.
