Top prosecutor launches indictment inquiry on Peru’s President, Ministers

Peru’s top prosecutor has launched an indictment inquiry into President Dina Boluarte and key ministers over weeks of clashes that have left dozens of people dead.

The officials are being investigated on charges of genocide, qualified homicide and serious injuries. Violence erupted after ex-President Pedro Castillo was arrested in December for trying to dissolve Congress.

On Monday, 17 people died in clashes between Castillo supporters and security forces in south-eastern Peru. Dozens more were injured in the city of Juliaca on what was the worst day of violence so far. Many of the victims had gunshot wounds.

The authorities accused the protesters of trying to overrun Juliaca’s airport and a local police station. An overnight curfew is now in place in the region. On Tuesday, the attorney general’s office announced its decision to investigate Ms. Boluarte, Prime Minister Alberto Otárola, and the defence and interior ministers.

The president and her ministers have not publicly commented on the issue. Castillo supporters – many of whom are poor indigenous Peruvians – say President Boluarte must resign, snap elections be held, and the former president released.

Mr. Castillo, a left-winger, tweeted from his prison cell, saying those defending Peru from what he called the coup dictatorship would never be forgotten. In a separate development on Tuesday, Mr. Otárola’s government comfortably won a vote of confidence in Congress.

The South American nation has been through years of political turmoil. The latest crisis came to a head when Mr. Castillo announced he was dissolving Congress and introducing a state of emergency in December.

But Congress voted overwhelmingly to impeach him. The former president is being investigated on charges of rebellion and conspiracy. He denies all the accusations, insisting that he is still the country’s legitimate president.

SkyNews/S.O