Deputy Gerardo Pisarello asked that Spain stop providing riot gear to Peru

Spanish deputy Gerardo Pisarello questioned the government of Dina Boluarte in the Spanish Congress.

The serious political crisis in Peru continues to be closely watched by the international community. Not only in South America, but in Europe due to the demonstrations in different parts of the country that protest asking for the early elections, the closure of Congress and against the government of Dina Boluarte.

Now, the turn came to the Spanish deputy Gerardo Pisarello who took advantage of his speech this Monday during a session of the Foreign Relations Commission of the Congress of Deputies to raise his voice in protest against what is happening in Peruvian territory.

“I cannot begin my speech on foreign policy without first expressing our deep concern about the repressive violence that has been unleashed against the civilian population in Peru in recent weeks,” he said at the beginning of his speech.

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“In little more than a month there are already fifty fatalities, which include the indigenous population, peasants, seven minors and medical personnel,” he added. According to reports from the Ombudsman’s Office, there are more than 60 deaths and more than 700 injuries from the clashes between the Armed Forces and the civilian population.

🔴 The number of fatalities and people injured and arrested continues to grow in #Peru.

Today in Congress we ask the Government #Boulders that the repression and persecution of community leaders cease. Spain must now suspend the supply of riot gear 👇🏾📽️ pic.twitter.com/Pmnrr6IGWL

— Gerardo Pisarello (@G_Pisarello) January 23, 2023

On the other hand, the Spanish deputy continued with his speech referring to the recent operation by the National Police that arrested more than 200 people at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. Yesterday it was reported that they were all released because no evidence was found against them.

“Two days ago, tanks and armed forces stormed the San Marcos University, the oldest in the Americas, and detained almost 200 people, including a mother with an 8-year-old daughter. And two days ago, the entry into Peru of foreign naval and military units to carry out these tasks was approved.”

Closing his speech, Pisarello emphasized that “today, from this Congress of Deputies, we want to condemn these acts and demand that the Government of Dina Boluarte end the repression and persecution of community leaders, and that the legitimate right to the protest of Peruvians and Peruvians”.

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In addition, the Spanish deputy aligned himself with the proposal of Amnesty International. Yesterday it was learned that the international organization asked the Government of Pedro Sánchez to suspend the sale of arms to Peru.

An anti-government protester charges police with a stick during clashes in Lima, Peru, Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023. The protests seek an immediate electoral advance, Boluarte’s resignation, the release of ousted president Pedro Castillo, and justice for the at least 48 protesters killed in clashes with the police. (AP Photo/Martín Mejía)

The entity urged the Secretary of State for Commerce of Spain to stop “immediately” any export of lethal and riot control material to Peru. According to his statement, there is a “high risk” that law enforcement could use it to “commit serious human rights violations.”

Likewise, Amnesty International indicated that there have been “very worrying operations” of repression against protesters in various regions of the country. For his part, the director of the organization in Spain, Esteban Beltrán, clarified that the European country has been the main supplier of arms to Peru for the last 5 years, but there is a “risk” that the use of this article “is serving to silence” .

According to the entity, authorizations for weapons licenses have been granted in the amount of 184 million euros between 2017 and June 2022. Of this figure, around 40 million were for riot control materials.

For this reason, through a letter, they request the suspension of these types of weapons until there are those responsible. In other words, for the organization there must be a process against the Peruvian Army and the National Police, as well as the forces request that the forces of order receive training so that they can use the material, in accordance with international standards.

President of the Judiciary asked Dina Boluarte that the Armed Forces guard headquarters throughout the country The political crisis in Peru will enter the debate at the CELAC summit in Argentina Amnesty International asked Spain to immediately suspend the sale of arms to Peru

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