For an end to the repression and an urgent call for elections in Peru

El CLACSO Working Group on Critical Studies of Rural Development expresses its concern and condemnation of the anti-democratic and repressive measures of the de facto government of Dina Boluarte in Peru.

Following the unconstitutional removal of President Pedro Castillo and the appointment of Dina Boluarte, fraught with legal and political challenges, who now holds the office of President of Peru, the new government has disregarded the rights of the Peruvian people. Through massive demonstrations, the people have expressed their rejection of the current political process and demanded new elections this year. Even more egregious, instead of addressing the demands of the Peruvian people, Boluarte's government has launched a brutal and deadly campaign of repression against those protesting the usurpation of the presidency.

The unpunished killing of more than 60 protesters at the hands of state security forces is reprehensible, as is the armed invasion and destruction of infrastructure at the National University of San Marcos, accompanied by the violent arrest and humiliation of farmers, university students, men, and women who were on campus, thus violating the university's autonomy. This occurs within a context of imposed state of emergency, the militarization of the country, and the criminalization and judicialization of the people and their leaders. Furthermore, it takes place within a framework of media manipulation and the promotion of polarization to delegitimize citizens' demands for respect for democracy and individual and collective rights.

As the CLACSO Working Group, we join in denouncing and condemning this anti-democratic and repressive regime headed by Boluarte and we stand in solidarity with the Peruvian people who are fighting to preserve the fragile and deficient democracy and to guarantee their will expressed at the ballot box. 

Finally, we endorse the position of the CLACSO Steering Committee, which states:

"In solidarity with the Peruvian people, CLACSO demands the immediate end of the state of emergency, the cessation of violence and repression, and the holding of fair and democratic elections that reflect the will of the Peruvian people."

January 27, 2023
CLACSO Working Group
Critical studies of rural development

This statement expresses the position of the aforementioned Working Group and not necessarily that of the centers and institutions that make up the CLACSO international network, its Steering Committee or its Executive Secretariat.