Peru is in turmoil. While the Executive continues to wait for the granting of legislative powers and implements ineffective measures against criminal groups, the population continues to die at the hands of extortionists. In the last week, they murdered an investigative journalist in the city of Chimbote and threatened another in the Ica region. Firearm homicides reached 248 between July 28 and September 11.
On September 19, journalist and candidate for the Regional Government of Ancash (in the north of the country), Susy Ysabel Aponte Polo was murdered in the city of Caraz, while carrying out campaign activities for her political campaign. La China Polo, as she was known, had received threats against her life days earlier, due to her reports on corruption cases. The case is under investigation, while various journalistic organizations, state institutions, and civil society have spoken out in mourning the journalist’s murder.
On the other hand, another communicator, Kenny Yucra López, director of the media outlet lalupa.pe also received two death threats against him and his family. The incidents are being investigated, while the Institute of Press and Society (IPYS) issued a public alert over the attacks on male and female journalists who carry out investigative journalism.
For its part, the National Association of Journalists (ANP) stated that “it is unacceptable to violate the right to life in a democracy; it demands that the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the National Police of Peru conduct a swift investigation to determine who ordered, carried out and facilitated the murder, as well as rigorously establish the motive for the crime. The ANP adds its voice to the guild’s branch in Huaraz, which has made a firm call for sanity and responsibility from all political, social and citizen actors, in the face of an event that has left the region in shock”.
Citizens mobilize for life
Faced with the wave of violence, various trade unions, grassroots social organizations, students, scholarship recipients and activists gathered in the Citizen Platform in Defense of Life and Security, calling for a Great National March.
It will take place on Tuesday, September 22 at 4 p.m. in Plaza San Martín, calling for “No more impunity” (Justice for Susy Aponte and all the victims), “No more violence” (against contract killings and rampant crime) and “Out with pro-crime laws” (we demand their immediate repeal).
In an exercise in real democracy, citizens are mobilizing for citizen security, seeking solutions that go beyond declarations of emergency or control in prisons; meanwhile… will the government continue postponing the social demand for life?
¡Citizens are rising up! #NotOneMoreDeath #RealSecurityNow