Stand with the Victims of Repression in Peru
Juliaca’s Victims Group © Juan Carlos Cisneros
The December 7, 2022 removal and arrest of President Pedro Castillo triggered widespread protests, and thousands of people took to the streets of Peru. The Peruvian National Police and Army responded with excessive force, with the unlawful use of bullets, tear gas, and rubber and metal pellets. From January 6 to February 9, 2023, security forces killed 49 protesters and injured hundreds (204 in just one week of January). They labelled the victims as “terrorists.”
Over two years later, the victims and their families are still waiting for truth, justice and reparation. Most casualties came from historically oppressed indigenous and campesino (rural farm worker) communities in southern Peru. In Andahuaylas, Ayacucho and Juliaca, the victims of state repression are fighting for their voices to be heard.
The Association of Martyrs and Victims of January 9 in Juliaca represents families who lost loved ones or suffered injuries during the security forces violent suppression of the protests. Their main aim is to end impunity for these human rights violations.
The families continue to struggle with the trauma from what they experienced and the ongoing challenges accessing healthcare. This is compounded by systemic racism and marginalization. Many have transformed their grief into human rights activism.
The official investigations have been plagued by technical failures and delays. Though criminal proceedings against police and military personnel finally began in mid-2024, they’ve repeatedly stalled.
There is a petition on the AIUK site to Peru’s Public Prosecutor’s Office. It calls on them to ensure ongoing criminal investigations into the deaths and injuries face no obstacles; are prompt and independent; and include concrete evidence against superiors who may have responsibility.