Political crisis in Peru: the government calls its ambassadors in the countries that protect Pedro Castillo

The conflict in Peru it is about to become a major regional diplomatic crisis. The Foreign Ministry of Lima convened this Thursday in consultation its ambassadors in Argentina, Mexico, Colombia and Bolivia, in rejection of the statements of those governments whom he asked to replace in the presidency Peter Castillofired on Wednesday last week after his failed coup.

The gesture reveals Lima’s unease about an external situation that complicates the delicate situation he is facing President Dina Boluarte with massive and violent protests by supporters of the former president who demanded his freedom or his return to power, and which up to the night had caused nine deaths.

The call to ambassadors took place on the same day Judge Juan Carlos Checkle announced he was extending Castillo’s pretrial detention for 18 months while under investigation for alleged crimes of rebellion and conspiracy.

The magistrate held the session virtually, without the presence of Castillo, who declined to be notified, the court said. Similarly, a public defender acted because Castillo’s lawyers refused to participate.

The decision on the legal status of the former president coincides with the validity of the art national state of emergency decreed on Wednesday by Boluarte. Given the increase in social protests, several fundamental rights (such as those of assembly and free movement) were suspended for 30 days and the armed forces were mobilized to complement the work of the police in containing the demonstrations.

This Thursday, The government has issued a curfew in 15 provinces from 6pm to 4am.. It will be in force for 5 days and implies the restriction of movement on the street at that time.

“As for the countries that have expressed discordant opinions with what happened constitutionally in Peruwith the President we agreed to bring in consultation in Lima a our ambassadors in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia and Mexico, in reaction to Peru’s interference in internal affairs,” Foreign Minister Ana Cecilia Gervasi announced in an official ceremony.

The head of Peruvian diplomacy gave reasons for the decision in which he expressed “our annoyed by that attitude this is not consistent with the mutual respect that should prevail in relations between countries and with our traditional ties of friendship with them”.

While highlighted the gestures of the United States or Chilewho have expressed their support for the Boluarte government, the chancellor remarked: “We have given time to these countries to express some change compared to their first demonstration. Since it has not been done, the second step was to call in consultation with the our ambassadors, with whom our embassies in those countries will be at the level of charge d’affaires”.

Before that decision, Gervasi had summoned the ambassadors of the four countries, including The Argentine Ernesto Vaca Narvajato explain the constitutional situation for which Boluarte took office.

The passage of the Farnesina does not yet represent the highest instance of the definitive withdrawal of ambassadors, but in the forms of diplomatic language constitutes an official complaint it’s a voltage increase between Lima and the group of countries accused of protecting Castillo despite having violated the law and attempted a coup d’état with the closing of the Congress which was about to decide his dismissal for corruption.

Specifically, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia and Bolivia have signed a document practically demanding the reinstatement of Castillo in power and expressed their concern about respecting the constitutional rights of the deposed president, which greatly annoyed Lima. Indeed, on Wednesday, the Argentine ambassador there, Enrique Vaca Narvaja, must have listen to the complaints of the new administration Peruvian

In this joint statement, the quartet of countries complained that Castillo was “subject to judicial treatment in the same violative manner” and called on “all actors involved in the previous trial to give priority to the will of the citizens pronounced in the ballot boxes”.

The statement came after many other countries in the region expressed their concern about the crisis since Castillo decided to dissolve Congress, as It was widely considered a coup..

Yesterday it was learned that Castillo sent a letter from prison to the presidents of the four countries expressing his “gratitude” for their support, as Congress began debating bringing forward elections to the end of 2023 in an attempt to appease the protests that don’t give up.

Peru: curfew in 15 provinces

The decree decreeing the curfew from the afternoon to four in the morning in 15 provinces indicates: “To declare for the term of five calendar days, compulsory social immobilisation of all people in their homes, within the framework of the state of emergency during compulsory social immobilisation”

“People can move through publicly used roads for the acquisition, production and supply of food, which includes storage and distribution for sale to the public,” he adds.

It governs the provinces of Arequipa, Virú, Ica, Pisco, Andahuaylas, Chincheros, Cisco, La Convención, Chumbivilcas, Espinar, Carabaya, San Roman, Tayacaja, Angaraes and Cangallo. It is found in the most troubled regions of Cusco, Arequipa, Ica, La Libertad, Apurímac, Puno, Huancavelica and Ayacucho.

The curfew except to strictly necessary personnel, which includes: Health servicesmedicines, water services, sanitation, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, transport, surveillance and security, delivery, restaurants and hotels, assistance, financial services, electricity, gas, fuel, telecommunications and related activities, cleaning and solid waste collection, funeral servicesand related activities.

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