Farid Kahhat: "I don’t know what Pedro Castillo’s lawyers are thinking"

It is not the first time that the former president Pedro Castillo resort to international bodies. Still as head of state, he invoked the Democratic Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS), but breached recommendations of the High-Level Mission despite the fact that the preliminary report mentioned the “destabilizing attacks” received by his administration. The continuation of the coup with the failed coup was an authoritarian measure alien to the values ​​of humanitarian law and respect for democratic institutions.

A day later, on December 8, 2022, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued an emphatic statement. He condemned “the decisions contrary to the constitutional order in Peru”, while recognizing “the immediate actions of the institutions of Peru in defense of democracy to avoid the realization of the institutional breakdown.” It is because of this background that the internationalist Farid Kahhat does not envision any support from the IACHR for Castillo Terrones in his request for release and restitution. “I don’t know what their lawyers are thinking,” he said in conversation with this means of communication.

The commission does not act ex officio; that is to say, it does not have immediate interference in the cases denounced before its jurisdiction. In addition, the recommendations it provides —for example, those listed by the High Level Mission at the request of the former rural school teacher— are not mandatory. It cannot have determination in the action of its Member States, except in flagrant breach of its articles. The maximum coercive measure is to take away the right to vote from the member countries, but Peru, in the case of the removal of the recent former president, complies with the regulations. “The IACHR may criticize the conduct of the Government of Dina Boluarte in matters of human rightsbut I don’t think it will help Castillo at all”, commented the internationalist.

False statements of the Government of Dina Boluarte about Castillo’s claims

The prime minister who accumulates more than half a hundred deaths From his entrance to the Palace he made a bet. Pedro Castillo would like to emulate the current president of Colombia, Gustavo Petroin his past “replacement” as mayor of Bogotá in 2014. In dialogue with Radio Programas, Alberto Otárola He outlined that possibility, but Kahhat does not believe there is a parallel: “What is attributed to the former head of state is more serious and, in addition, he was arrested in flagrante.”

Almost nine years ago Petro appealed to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for their political rights to be returned. Only then was she able to register for the presidential elections. The ex-unionist’s approach is different, since the request made by his ex-minister Walter Ayala It is to another entity, the IACHR.