South America: Peru’s deposed President Castillo must remain in custody

South America
Peru’s deposed President Castillo remains in custody

The Supreme Court in Peru has rejected President Pedro Castillo’s appeal against his pre-trial detention. The court announced this via Twitter after a hearing. According to the Peruvian broadcaster “RPP Notícias”, judge César San Martín Castro was of the opinion that the investigations against Castillo because of the allegation of rebellion were justified. This criminal offense is not only fulfilled in the case of an armed uprising, but also in the attempt to abolish the democratic order and to concentrate all political power in one hand.

With the dissolution of the congress, the left-wing politician Castillo wanted to forestall a vote of no confidence in parliament. Both his own cabinet and the opposition accused him of a coup d’état, which is why the former village school teacher was removed from office and arrested on Wednesday last week. “I am being unfairly and arbitrarily detained,” Castillo said at the hearing. He will never give up the cause of the people. The ex-president called on the police and armed forces to “lay down their arms and stop killing the people thirsting for justice”.

In southern and southeastern Peru, where Castillo has a particularly large number of supporters, there have been violent protests against his dismissal and clashes between demonstrators and the police in recent days. According to Human Rights Ombudsman Eliana Revollar, several people were shot dead, including two minors. Air and train traffic in various areas of the Andean country was suspended, and the police presence on the streets of the capital Lima was increased. Thousands of people demanded the resignation of Castillo’s successor Dina Boluarte, the dissolution of parliament, early new elections and the release of the imprisoned ex-president.

dpa