International

UN says Peru resorted to excessive use of force in protests that left more than 60 people dead

Photo: AP

May 19 |

The United Nations rapporteur on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, Clément Voule, said Wednesday that the Peruvian government used excessive force that led to the deaths of more than 60 Peruvians during three months of demonstrations calling for the resignation of President Dina Boluarte.

In early May, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights reported in a report that the Peruvian army and police allegedly committed massacres, extrajudicial executions, serious human rights violations, as well as disproportionate and lethal use of force during the protests.

“The excessive and disproportionate use of force led to the death and injury of protesters and bystanders during the protests that began in December,” Voule told reporters at the end of a 10-day working visit that included meetings with the president, protesters and victims’ families.

Voule, a Togo-born lawyer and diplomat, added that Peru must “guarantee access to justice, remedies, reparations and compensation to the victims, including assuming the cost of medical treatment for the injured.”

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

He indicated that after visiting prisons, talking to government ministers, police, military, prosecutors and judges he has received no evidence that the protesters “are terrorists.”

“They are protesters,” he added. The Peruvian justice system confirmed in May 18 months of preventive imprisonment for four protesters while they are investigated for the alleged crime of affiliation or membership in a terrorist organization.

“This stigma of being a terrorist should not be used,” he commented. Four other protesters in the city of Cusco were sentenced in January to nine months in pre-trial detention for the crimes of rioting and hindering the functioning of public services.

The rapporteur said he received “no evidence” that the protesters had used firearms.

The demonstrations against Boluarte began on December 7 when he assumed power after Congress dismissed his predecessor Pedro Castillo, now imprisoned for three years while under investigation for corruption and rebellion. The protests that culminated in February left 49 civilians killed by security forces, according to the Ombudsman’s Office. Another 11 civilians died in traffic accidents or road blockades by protesters. Seven uniformed officers were also killed.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

Voule said that in trying to find the causes of the protests in the southern Peruvian Andes he met people who “feel overwhelmed by the corruption in the country and are asking for a real fight against corruption”, precisely in areas where Peru’s wealth is produced, including copper mining, a metal that goes to China and of which the country is the second largest exporter in the world.

The UN official indicated that his full report will be presented in 2024.

International

Bolivia Orders Three Investigations Into Deadly Military Plane Crash

Bolivia’s Defense Minister Marcelo Salinas announced Monday that three separate investigations will be conducted into Friday’s crash of a military cargo aircraft at El Alto International Airport, near La Paz, which left at least 22 people dead.

The Hercules aircraft, operated by the Fuerza Aérea Boliviana (FAB), was transporting cash intended for the Central Bank of Bolivia when it overshot the runway after landing from the city of Santa Cruz. The plane reportedly traveled nearly one kilometer beyond the airport perimeter.

The incident sparked chaotic scenes, with individuals attempting to collect scattered banknotes. Authorities detained 51 people in the aftermath, and the government declared three days of national mourning.

Multiple Investigations Underway

The first inquiry is being led by a military board from the Bolivian Air Force, which has already taken custody of the aircraft’s black box for analysis.

Minister Salinas said two additional investigations will follow — one conducted by the insurance company and another by the aircraft’s manufacturer.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

“At least two more investigations will come, that of the insurance company and that of the aircraft manufacturer,” Salinas said during a press conference in Santa Cruz.

He cautioned that the investigative process could take between three and six months, noting that the black box cannot be opened in Bolivia due to the lack of specialized laboratories for analysis.

Awaiting Official Findings

Salinas stressed that the FAB investigative board is the highest authority in the case and urged the public to wait for its conclusions to avoid speculation about the causes of the crash.

He also confirmed that the government has contacted the families of the 22 victims and the 37 injured, as well as the owners of 15 damaged vehicles, to coordinate procedures with the insurer and cover the corresponding expenses.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

International

Mexico Calls for Immediate Probe After National Dies in ICE Custody

Mexico’s Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) on Monday called on U.S. authorities to conduct an “immediate and thorough” investigation into the death of a Mexican national while in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a processing facility in California.

In a statement, the Mexican government described the death as “regrettable” and urged U.S. officials to clarify the circumstances surrounding the case in order to “determine responsibilities and ensure that such events do not happen again.”

Death at Adelanto Processing Center

According to available information, the Mexican citizen died at the Adelanto Processing Center in California while under ICE custody. Authorities have not yet released the individual’s identity or the cause of death.

Following the incident, Mexico’s Foreign Ministry formally requested “detailed information” from U.S. authorities, including the detainee’s medical records and custody reports.

Consular Assistance Activated

The Mexican Consulate in San Bernardino, California, has activated consular assistance protocols to provide ongoing support to the deceased’s family. Officials have contacted relatives to express condolences and offer legal guidance, as well as assistance with the necessary procedures to repatriate the remains.

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

“The handling of situations like this and the establishment of mechanisms to resolve them are priorities for the Government of Mexico,” the Foreign Ministry said, adding that it will formally request an investigation into any systemic conditions that may have contributed to such incidents.

Local Mexican media reported that seven Mexican nationals died while in ICE detention last year — the highest number recorded since the agency was created.

International

Anti-ICE Billboard Campaign Targets Immigration Spending in 31 U.S. Cities

More than 200 billboards criticizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) began appearing Monday in 31 cities across the United States, including Miami, as part of a campaign highlighting the high cost of immigration enforcement operations for taxpayers.

The initiative, titled “ICE Costs Us,” was launched by the civil rights organization Mijente and will run for four weeks.

Criticism of Spending and Enforcement Tactics

The billboards feature images of ICE agents during arrests or carrying military-style weapons. According to the organization, spending on military-grade equipment for the agency has increased by 600 percent in recent years.

Several signs display messages such as:
“Your taxes are being wasted” and “ICE’s cruelty costs you $28 billion,” referring to the agency’s annual budget.

In a statement, Marisa Franco, co-founder of the Mijente Support Committee, said:
“For too long, our government has prioritized building cages and investing billions in an immigration enforcement apparatus that has left families torn apart and communities terrified.”

20260224_estafa_mh_728x90

She added that “Millions of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, yet this violent agency continues operating with a blank check. These decisions do not make us safer nor improve our economic security. Our billboards highlight these choices and demand a different path.”

Budget Debate and Medicaid Comparison

The campaign also draws a comparison between ICE’s funding and the estimated 17 million people who could lose health coverage under Medicaid due to federal budget cuts under President Donald Trump.

Other billboard messages seen in various cities include:
“They get billions to beat us; we get layoffs and rising rents” and “Funding ICE is a fast track to fascism.”

Organizers say the goal is to spark public debate about the allocation of federal funds for immigration enforcement and the broader economic and social impact of such policies on communities nationwide.