Numerous groups of students toured the different faculties of the National University of San Marcos (UNMSM), chanting slogans against the elections that should be held this Friday the 18th in the same University City. They also directed their rejection against the rector of said house of studies, Jeri Ramon.
“Jeri, listen, San Marcos repudiates you”, “San Marcos is aware, there is electoral fraud”, “San Marcos belongs to the people and not to the corrupt” were the most repeated phrases.
The students first blocked gates 1 and 3 of the University City, and then took over the other entrances.
With banners and banners, student groups harangued against Rector Jeri and those who support her in the university government, and against these elections of the representatives of principal and associate professors before the University Assembly; University Council and Faculty Councils, and also of the deans of each faculty.
University students reject the current administration of Rector Jeri Ramón.
The students harangued again and again against the lack of guarantees in these elections, against the irregularities in the process and the blemishes imposed on lists and candidates opposed to the San Marcos government.
“We have two requests, two flags,” he explained to The Republic a student leader who preferred anonymity to avoid reprisals.
“We ask for the annulment of the elections and for a new process to be called. There is a bill, promoted by Congressman Esdras Medina, an ally of Rector Jeri, that seeks the re-election of authorities like Jeri. And another for the authorities to be elected through the University Assembly (AU), which is why in these elections opposition professors have been eliminated, to have total control of the AU and be re-elected. If this prospers, Jeri Ramón would stay until 2031,” he indicated.
The student leader consulted also said that this fight is against the modification of article 188 of the university Statute and that union autonomy be returned to the students. “Last year the rector and her assembly members modified article 188, to make the Federation elections be carried out by the university Electoral Committee, the same committee denounced for so many irregularities. “We want it to be modified, the autonomy returned to the unions for our electoral processes.”
Upon learning of the student reaction, the Academic Vice-Rector’s Office ordered that classes be held virtually.
At night there were clashes. Students reported that ‘thugs’ were sent against them.
At the close of this edition, the university government of Jeri Ramón did not inform the public what it was going to do in response to the student takeover.
But sources close to his administration announced that the police would enter. At the beginning of 2023, a violent entry of law enforcement officers was allowed, which earned him much criticism and rejection.
At night, another group of people tried to enter and there were strong clashes. University leaders said that those entering nearby were not students but ‘thugs’ and ‘vandals’ hired to unlock the doors.
The students even captured some of the entrants, one of whom had red paint.
They accused the rector and those close to her of wanting to distort their protest.
Everything became chaos late at night. Police officers were waiting, meanwhile, outside the university campus.
Student unions unite
-The university students consulted indicated that they have formed a Student Union Coordinator for this protest.
-They denounced that the rector has control of the current Electoral Committee and that is why opposition lists have been crossed out.
-They criticize other student organizations “serving the rectorate” such as Idea San Marcos, Contigo San Marcos, Hagamos and Renace San Marcos.
-The student unions assure that with control of the University Assembly, Jeri will remain in power until 2031.
This Friday the 18th elections were to be held, Rector Jeri said at night that they would evaluate what to do.
At the end: Jeri evaluates the situation this Friday
-Rector Jeri Ramón said in RPP that she was calling a University Council very early, this Friday the 18th, “to look at this problem.” He was asked if the elections could be suspended and he responded that it was being evaluated.
-He believed that those who are protesting are in any case only a group of students.
