This January 9, 2026, marks three years since the murder of 18 people in the hands of the Armed Forces during protests against Dina Boluarte. The mourners in memory of loved ones celebrated a mass in the Pueblo de Dios parish, in the district of San Miguel, Fist.
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The liturgical act turned bitter because it coincided with the determination of the Acting Prosecutor of the Nation, Tomas Gálvezwho deactivated several specialized units, including the Special Team of Prosecutors for Cases with Victims during Social Protests (Eficavip). This work team had advanced the investigations into what happened in Puno, and the prosecutors in charge were close to presenting a criminal accusation against the entire chain of command of the National Police and Armywhich authorized opening fire against protesters demanding the resignation of Dina Boluarte.
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“This miserable interim prosecutor did not strike a blow in the soul. But he is not going to stay like this. While we demand justice, this white collar deactivated the group of prosecutors who were investigating what happened in the protests. He has submitted to Congress, which has always protected the police and military. But we are going to continue insisting on sanctions for those responsible. We are going to return to the streets to tell them that they are not going to break us,” said Raúl Samillan, president of the January 9 victims’ association. This organization brings together relatives of the bereaved.
Father Luis Zambrano officiated at the same center and urged those who lost their relatives not to faint, because there is no greater expression of love than seeking justice.
The National Prosecutor, disqualified by Congress, was the guest of honor. Delia Espinoza. She declared herself a Christian and recalled that the Public Ministry is an important piece to achieve justice through the defense of people’s rights, but she specified that there are evil forces that kept her away from the prosecutor’s office.
“Unfortunately, the devil is also present in our homeland. But the fight must not cease to exist. I am at this moment removed from my position by the forces of evil, a position that I earned with effort and without owing anything to anyone, but my mission is not over. I am going to use the best tool I know: the law. I will continue fighting to return to that position that allows me to continue working for justice in my beloved country. To Juliaca, I say do not lose hope,” Espinoza stated.
Mourners walked through the main streets of Puno, carrying coffins and demanding justice. Photo: Liubomir Fernández, La República
They showed their rejection against prosecutor Gálvez
The mourners fulfilled what they had programmed, but at no time did they stop expressing themselves against the Tomas Galvezbecause the determination it adopted significantly harms them in terms of the progress of the investigations.
“From Puno, Tomás Gálvez must know that we repudiate and despise him because, instead of pursuing justice, he has put himself at the service of Congress and the political mafia. What he is seeking is impunity. What he seeks is for the processes to be distorted so that the facts become impunity,” said Luis Callo Callata, leader of the Puno Base National Struggle Committee.
They walked through the streets carrying coffins in their hands
Hundreds of people marched carrying coffins and crosses with the image of their loved ones, from the Pueblo de Dios temple, to the exterior of the airport. Inca Manco Capac airportat the exit to the city of Cuscowhere the majority of victims lost their lives. They left the symbolic coffins on the perimeter fence of the airport terminal in protest because those responsible have not yet been punished.
“These unfortunate people like to kill, but they do not want to be responsible for everything they did. The Attorney General, who has no legitimacy and is a puppet of Congress, is miserable. From here we tell him that we are not going to let our guard down. We are going to continue. What he has done has caused us more pain, but it has strengthened us. We are going to return to the prosecutor’s office to tell him his truths. To this white collar, all our contempt,” said Milagros Samillan, Marto Antonio’s sister. Simillán, a doctor who lost his life due to a gunshot wound.
The day culminated with mobilization from the Cusco exit to Zarumilla Square in the center of the city of Juliaca, where there was a presentation of musical and theatrical cultural groups.
