Four years have passed since the deaths of Inti Sotelo and Bryan Pintado in the context of the protests against Manuel Merino de Lama. At this time, family members are waiting for the prosecutor, Jhousy Aburtopresent the respective accusation.
In April of this year, the preparatory investigation was completed, which took approximately three and a half years.
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According to lawyer Carlos Rivera, representative of Sotelo’s family, the events that led to the deaths of both and that caused serious injuries to around 80 people have been proven.
Likewise, it has been determined that the crimes were a consequence of the execution of an operations plan by the Peruvian National Police (PNP) and that firearms were used in the repression against the protesters, not only disproportionately but also intentionally. “There was a chain of command,” Rivera said.
Mass revolt
In November 2020, in the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic, Congress, chaired by Merino de Lama, obtained the votes to vacate the former President of the Republic, Martín Vizcarra, due to moral incapacity.
At that time Vizcarra was a leader with significant levels of popularity. As there were no vice presidents in the line of succession as a result of the political crisis, Merino de Lama replaced him. He appointed a cabinet headed by someone from the old guard: Ántero Flores-Aráoz.
The parliamentary decision was not well received by the population. Tens of thousands of people came out to protest in Lima. They were not looking for the return of Vizcarra, but rather for Merino de Lama to step aside and appoint another leader.
The new Government, completely overwhelmed by events, was unable to establish a dialogue with the citizens in the streets. The only thing he managed to do was carry out very harsh repression. On November 14, Sotelo and Pintado were murdered.
Merino de Lama did not last a week (several cabinet ministers presented their resignations) and, cornered, he resigned in a message to the Nation. The Plenary of the Legislature then elected Francisco Sagasti as the new president, who was in charge of concluding the eventful five-year period 2016-2021 and calling new general elections.
Recently through his X account, Merino de Lama congratulated Donald Trump for winning the elections in the United States. He signed as “former constitutional president of the Republic of Peru.” User comments recalled that he was only in the Palace for five days.
“We are waiting for an accusation to be presented by the Public Ministry (MP) to be able to enter the intermediate stage, which is what we need and is one of our demands. Although it is true that the MP has carried out an investigation, in any case, as a family, we need a statement from them,” said Killa Sotelo, Inti’s sister.
In effect, after the accusation is proceeded with, the intermediate stage will be entered for the investigation control hearing. And if the judge considers it pertinent, the oral trial should proceed.
Sotelo pointed out that it has been corroborated with evidence, forensic expertise, ballistic expertise and witness reports that there were serious violations of human rights “with the responsibility of the police chiefs and subordinates who used high-impact weapons and that generated serious injuries, and, also, the deaths of Inti and Bryan.”
Finally, Sotelo pointed out that his family is in favor of the marches these days. “We stand in solidarity with the affected people whose lives are taken from their families, as Inti’s life was taken from us. And there are no responses from Congress or the Government, but quite the opposite, there is indifference, creating laws in their favor, leaving us citizens abandoned. It is the time when we must come out and speak out,” he said.
