16:38 | Trujillo (La Libertad region), May. 25.
Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti on Tuesday affirmed that those responsible for the murder of 16 people in the Valley of Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM) will be found and punished.
"This will not go unpunished," he said in statements to the press.
He noted that the Chief of the Joint Command of the Armed Forces, Manuel Cossio, headed to Mazamari, a town in VRAEM that is being thoroughly patrolled, too.
According to the President, the senior military officer is expected to lead an operation for the search and annihilation of the terrorists who allegedly committed the killings.
Mr. Sagasti emphasized that this "is a rough and difficult area filled with streams, which narco-terrorists are familiar with very well."
"On behalf of the Government, I would like to extend my condolences to the families of the victims; rest assured that this crime will not go unpunished," he said, describing the crime as "a national tragedy."
In this sense, he asked citizens not to give a political connotation to this act. "That is something we must reject," he added.
Regarding the motivation behind this criminal act, Mr. Sagasti emphasized that it may be revenge, because the Armed Forces had just conducted operations in VRAEM to destroy cocaine paste maceration pits.
(END) FGM/CVC/RMB
Published: 5/25/2021