There are many topics to talk about, but there is one priority. It has to do with the character that your government seems to be taking. There are some signs that cause concern. The Police was inviting -until yesterday, Sunday- to a so-called “march for peace”. Do you think that this is the role of the PNP?
Indeed, The PNP has issued a call and the only thing I can say about it is that the PNP is a tutelary institution that must ensure the tranquility of society. I think they have already withdrawn their tweet and in good time, because they -I suppose- in that look of wanting peace and tranquility… is that this is an interest of all of us, except for this small group of citizens who are still convening for this January 4 to, once again, resume their protest marches. They are constitutionally protected, but I call on the people, the organizations to be peaceful marches, that do not generate disorder, chaos, fires, roadblocks. That is no longer a march as a protest, that is already leaving the legal framework.
Did you authorize the summons by the Police?
No, I wasn’t aware.
Was it a decision of Minister Rojas himself?
I wouldn’t know what to say. Last night (Sunday) I contacted the minister in that interest that he was traveling to Puno in search of dialogue. We are not going to get tired in the Executive of looking for those spaces. We want to inform that population that has a distorted idea of what has happened with the former president, Pedro Castillo and the constitutional succession. There is a lot of bad information from some leaders.
Another matter of concern is the repression against the marches. Isn’t it time to apologize to the families of the victims?
On repeated occasions and this would not be the exception, i said i’m so sorryIt hurts my heart to hear the death of those people. Dina Boluarte did not provoke the violence. The day I was sworn in, no one knew, neither the congressmen, nor Dina Boluarte, nor the ministers who were in the Executive branch at that time knew that a coup promoted by former President Castillo was coming. How was I supposed to know all that violence that came later? It has not been easy for the Executive to take the measures to declare a state of national emergency. Airports were taken…
Dina Boluarte gave her first interview to a print media and went to La República. Photo: Antonio Melgarejo / The Republic
Outside of “I’m sorry”, is it not necessary to ask for forgiveness?
Yes, I believe that there is no difficulty in asking for forgiveness, saying “I’m sorry” to all the families. we are not oblivious to painno way.
As constitutional president, you are the supreme head of the Armed Forces. Do you assume any political responsibility for the deaths?
As Executive we have given all the facilities to the Public Ministry so that a totally transparent investigation can be carried out. It’s more, tomorrow (Tuesday) there is an event in the Judiciary where I will try to have a small communication with the nation’s prosecutor so that the investigation can advance in the most prudent time. You will have to personally identify the situation of how these deaths have arisen, because there have been shots. There are police officers who are in serious condition due to gunshot wounds. So let’s find out where they came from. What must be made clear is that the Police and the Armed Forces have come out to protect the lives and tranquility of 33 million Peruvians, we have also confronted organizations such as drug trafficking and illegal mining. Those, then, are not people who walk with a white flag.
I believe in the human rights of everyone, including police officers and members of the armed forces. I only allow myself to note that there are no deceased from those institutions, and thank goodness that is so. All the victims are civilians.
Which have to be investigated in the Public Ministry. We, Executive, have also invited the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. I have met with them, the premier as well, they have gone to Ayacucho. And we have invited the high commissioner back. We have to wait for the results and the reports before wanting to pigeonhole ourselves in an issue that there has been a confrontation and that the Police and the Armed Forces… let’s wait for the investigations and it will be punished according to law.
The concrete, the arithmetic, due to the lack of investigations, is that there are 28 civilian deaths. I insist, does the government or you assume any political responsibility?
We as Executive, as president, have made the necessary decisions to safeguard peace, the tranquility and life of 33 million people. Those who have led to the violence, those who are behind that violence, those who have said “let’s go and burn, let’s go and burn, let’s go and take over airports”, they will be responsible. Here we cannot be placing all the responsibility on the Executive because we have not said “hey, go out and take over airports, listen, go out and set fire here or set fire there.” We have to look in the breadth. I believe that the press cannot come to say “you, you, you.” And what about the other side of violence? What about those who have generated the violence? They are responsible. And if behind them, as you say, there are congressmen, there are leaders, there are politicians who are inciting the population and deliberately distorting history, let them assume their responsibility.
READ THE COMPLETE INTERVIEW IN THE PHYSICAL EDITION OF LA REPUBLIC THIS TUESDAY, JANUARY 3
