Peru’s jailed ex-leader asks for meeting with human rights monitor
Lima, Dec 22 (EFE).- Peru’s imprisoned former president Pedro Castillo has requested a meeting with the delegation of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights mission that is currently visiting the country amid a political crisis.
In a letter published by his lawyer Wilfredo Robles Rivera late Wednesday local time, Castillo claimed he had been “arbitrarily” deprived of his freedom and urged members of the IACHR to visit him in prison, where he is serving an 18-month preventative sentence following his bid to dissolve parliament and rule by decree.
“I express my concern over what happened and as such request an important meeting be held with the IACHR and my legal team urgently,” a tweet shared on Castillo’s official Twitter page.
In the letter shared under the tweet, Robles also called for the IACHR to meet with Castillo.
The lawyer said the IACHR had expressed its intention to meet with Castillo but had yet to make contact with the legal team.
Peru was plunged into political turmoil on December 7 when Castillo tried to dissolve parliament, rule by decree and intervene in the judiciary. The left-wing president was ousted that same day and replaced by former vice president Dina Boluarte.
The political crisis sparked street protests that were particularly intense in the country’s south. At least 27 people were killed in the unrest.
Protesters are calling on Boluarte to stand down and for early elections.
Peru’s government invited the IACHR to visit the nation on Thursday, when it decreed a state of emergency in a bid to restore order. EFE
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