Ex-President Castillo of Peru to Serve 18-Month Imprisonment as Protests Erupt, Declaring a Purported 'Insurgency'
In a dramatic turn of events, Pedro Castillo, the former head of state of Peru, has been ordered to remain in pretrial detention for 18 months by the Supreme Court. This decision comes after Castillo was impeached and removed from office for attempting to dissolve Congress and install an emergency government.
Before becoming president, Castillo had never held public office, a fact that has been at the centre of the ongoing political turmoil. His government was marked by chaos, with numerous ministers appointed, replaced, dismissed, or resigning in less than a year. Castillo faced several corruption investigations and two failed impeachment attempts before being ousted.
The existing Peruvian government, led by interim president Dina Boluarte, has declared a state of emergency and deployed troops to the streets. The state of emergency was also declared by Peru's Protection Preacher Luis Alberto Otárola. The government's actions have been met with widespread protests across the country, with Castillo's supporters calling it a "nationwide insurgency."
Demonstrators have demanded a general election, the dissolution of Congress, and the production of a new constituent assembly. One protester described Peru's judicial system as "corrupt" and Castillo's detention as a kidnapping. Another protester, Sonia Castaneda, stated that Congress should respect the people's vote for Castillo.
The clashes between protesters and police have resulted in at least 11 deaths and 39 injuries. Four people were killed and at least 39 wounded in clashes near an airport in Ayacucho, Peru. The government has summoned ambassadors for a consultation over alleged interference in its internal events.
The governments of Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, and Bolivia have expressed concern over Castillo's fate, accusing him of undemocratic harassment. They have declared that Pedro Castillo is a victim of undemocratic persecution and have called on Peru to respect the 2021 presidential election results, although the specific names of the heads of state who made these statements are not available.
Pedro Castillo's legal representatives claim that he is not a flight risk. Castillo did not speak in court but previously defended his actions, stating he has never committed the crime of conspiracy or disobedience. The Supreme Court has stated that the prolonged detention is due to the complexity of the case and possible flight risk.
As the situation in Peru continues to unfold, the international community watches with bated breath, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing political crisis.
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