UN welcomes measures aimed at modernizing Peru's National Police

Source: United Nations in Peru

12:15 | Lima, Nov. 24.

The head of delegation and Representative of the United Nations Human Rights in South America Jan Jarab on Tuesday welcomed the measures recently announced by the Executive Branch regarding the modernization of the National Police of Peru (PNP).

Jarab recalled that the mission visited Peru for a period of five days, in order to document what had happened during the political crisis and the demonstrations held on November 14.

While in the country, the delegation also met with government authorities, such as new the President of the Republic Francisco Sagasti. Likewise, they collected the testimonies of the citizens affected.

"Last Saturday, an inter-ministerial Commission was set up to address the dimensions of reparations and witness protection, and today we comment on the decision to replace the police leadership that was responsible for the general conduct of the police forces during those days; this seems to be very good news, and we salute it," he said in remarks to TVPeru.

In this sense, Jarab explained that there is responsibility in the command chain and that the human rights violations were massive. Thus, he called for accountability.

"The information is still being processed; we have interviewed many victims, but it can be foreseen that there were serious human rights violations, improper use of force, attacks on freedom of expression, attacks on the journalists' guild, and obstruction of the work of people who defend human rights, among others," he indicated.

Responsibilities

Furthermore, Jarab specified that the criminal responsibility for what had happened during the days of protest is a task to be solved by both the Public Ministry and the Judiciary, although it is also necessary to determine the political masterminds behind those events.

"We know that after November 10 this Office (for Human Rights) expressed concerns; on November 12 another statement was published. Regardless of that, the former Prime Minister (Antero Flores-Araoz) visited the police members and gave them full support (...), and this could have contributed to what happened on November 14," he indicated.

Likewise, he argued that the participation of plainclothes police (Ternas) should be minimal and "only when necessary," while not incurring provocations.

Deaths

As is known,

two young men died as a result of pellet shots to their bodies during the protests held in Lima on November 14. In addition, there were several injured and missing people.

The first fatality was 22-year-old Jack Bryan Pintado Sanchez, who suffered gunshot wounds.

The second one, Inti Sotelo Camargo —aged 24 years— was admitted to a hospital with gunshot wounds to the chest at heart level.

It must be noted that those demonstrations prompted the resignation of former President Manuel Merino on November 15.

Two days later, Francisco Sagasti became President of the Republic and appointed a new Cabinet led by Prime Minister Violeta Bermudez.

(END) JCC/CVC/MVB

Published: 11/24/2020