Ousted Peruvian President Castillo calls his detention ‘political revenge’ By Reuters

By Marco Aquino

LIMA (Reuters) – Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo, who’s being held for 18 months in pre-trial detention after making an attempt to illegally dissolve Congress, mentioned on Wednesday he was a sufferer of “political revenge” by his adversaries.

Castillo, talking at a listening to to enchantment the detention, mentioned he had not dedicated the crimes of riot and conspiracy for which he’s below investigation.

“This unjust pre-trial detention… has solely served to polarize our nation,” an unshaven Castillo mentioned to the appeals courtroom in a video stream. “This entire course of is nothing greater than political revenge.”

The previous president is being held in a small jail on a police base in a district east of capital metropolis Lima. Elected in 2019, he was detained on Dec. 7 after making an attempt to shut down the legislature by decree to keep away from an impeachment trial. The vote went forward and Castillo was ousted and promptly arrested.

Dina Boluarte, who served as vice chairman below Castillo, was sworn in as the brand new president the identical day.

Castillo’s ouster and detention sparked a wave of protests by his supporters and people sad with the brand new authorities all through the nation, which in line with authorities information have left no less than 22 lifeless.

“I’ve by no means dedicated a criminal offense of riot, I’ve not taken up arms, nor have I referred to as anybody to take up arms,” Castillo mentioned. “The one who rose up in arms to finish the lives of greater than 30 Peruvians is the present authorities, leaving greater than 20 lacking and greater than 200 wounded.”

Boluarte’s authorities introduced a state of emergency practically two weeks in the past, granting safety forces particular powers and limiting freedoms equivalent to the best to meeting.

Human rights teams have accused authorities of utilizing firearms on protesters and dropping smoke bombs from helicopters. The military says protesters have used weapons and do-it-yourself explosives.

A Reuters investigation discovered a number of circumstances of people that had been shot lifeless within the residential streets of Ayacucho after the army moved into the area to wrest again management. 

The choose presiding over the listening to mentioned the courtroom will now focus on Castillo’s enchantment.