IACHR requests ballistics investigation after deaths from protests in Peru

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on Wednesday urged the Peruvian government to conduct an impartial investigation into the bullets that struck at least some of the 50 people who died in the violent demonstrations in Peruto determine who fired the shots.

Commissioner Stuardo Ralón, one of the members of the mission who was recently in Peru, said that the IACHR is already investigating complaints of violence by the security forces that it received from relatives of protesters.

The request to the Peruvian authorities comes at a time when the protests demanding the resignation of Peruvian President Dina Boluarte and Parliament seemed to spread to Lima, the country’s capital.

Ralon made his request in a brief presentation that he made virtually during a regular session of the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States, in which he himself and several of the member countries condemned the violence, urgently requested a dialogue between the different sectors of Peru and respect for human rights.

READ ALSO: IACHR mission will issue its report on the situation in Peru on the fortnight of February

“Of these complaints that have been received, the ballistic investigations that have to be carried out to establish the weapons that fired the shots will be essential.”Ralon said. He explained that autopsies carried out by the legal medicine department found shots to the head and chest of people killed in the protests.

“The State must carry out serious, impartial and timely investigations in this context, and be quick to establish what happened”, said. He emphasized the importance of “These ballistic tests and the custody of the projectiles that will be extracted from the physical bodies are carried out with adequate protocols”.

The protests began when President Boluarte, then vice president, took office on December 7 to replace Pedro Castillo, the first president of rural origin, who was ousted by Congress after his unsuccessful attempt to dissolve parliament.

Castillo was arrested that same day and is in a jail for presidents in Lima.

READ ALSO: Police and protesters clash in downtown Lima

Half a hundred people died and about 650 were injured.

An observation mission from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights visited Peru in December and, more recently, between January 11 and 13. Its members visited Lima and other regions of the country and met with representatives of different sectors, including members of the government and civil society.

Ralón stressed that up to now the Peruvian authorities have collaborated with the mission and said that in a month the IACHR will present a report with its conclusions and recommendations. He also asked that if for reasons of public order the security forces must intervene, they should do so respecting the law and the standards of necessity and proportionality.

“It is considered that the way out of this crisis must necessarily go through a broad dialogue, agreements and respect for the rule of law”expressed the commissioner and said that it has to include the different political actors, civil society, social and business movements and other organizations from all over the country. “This broad dialogue is urgent because there is a concern that if not rushed there could be more acts of violence”he warned.

(With information from AP News)