Karla Ornelas, head of the Mexican diplomatic mission in Lima, left the country on Saturday night, a week after the Government of President José Jerí ordered her to leave within a “peremptory period” in response to the asylum granted to Betssy Chavez.
The diplomat’s departure was detected when a van left the official residence in San Isidro heading to the Jorge Chávez airport, a movement that fueled rumors about a possible departure of the former prime minister, accused of rebellion and conspiracy.
The speculation ended around midnight, when Migrations confirmed that Ornelas carried out his exit control and left the national territory in compliance with the Executive’s order. This closes a new chapter of tension between Peru and Mexico, whose diplomatic relations were officially interrupted this week.
It is not an isolated episode. Peru had already expelled a senior Mexican representative in December 2022, when the then ambassador Pablo Monroy was declared persona non grata in the midst of the political crisis after the fall of Pedro Castillo. Now, Ornelas’ departure once again places both countries in a position of confrontation, since she was the one who authorized Betssy Chávez’s entry into the embassy to request diplomatic protection.
The Mexican government maintains that Chávez—like Castillo—is a victim of political persecution, a position that has been rejected by the Peruvian Executive and a large part of the population.
An Ipsos survey for Peru21 reveals that 79% of Peruvians, who are aware of the former premier’s judicial process, consider that the coup leader should stay in Peru to face her trial that could return her to prison. In Lima, 84% of those consulted think the same. 19%, on the other hand, are in favor of the former minister who endorsed the constitutional break in December 2022 having requested asylum.
The Peruvian Foreign Ministry decided to suspend the delivery of the safe conduct that would allow their departure to Mexico, arguing that the right to asylum has been used improperly.
The former prime minister remains inside the diplomatic headquarters without the possibility of leaving, as she would be immediately detained. The Peruvian Executive announced that it will propose to the OAS a reform of the Caracas Convention to review the scope of diplomatic asylum, a process without defined deadlines.
WHO IS KARLA ORNELAS?
Karla Tatiana Ornelas Loera He assumed the Mexican representation in Lima in 2022, after the expulsion of the then ambassador Pablo Monroy, declared persona non grata by the Peruvian government.
Ornelas was appointed as chargé d’affaires ai (ad interim).
She is a career diplomat with a solid background in International Relations, with a master’s degree and specialization in consular diplomacy, transparency, documentation and public management.
Throughout her career, she has held strategic positions within the Mexican Foreign Service: she was consul at the Mexican Embassy in Honduras (2018-2021), area director at the General Directorate of American Regional Organizations and Mechanisms (2012-2018), alternate representative of Mexico to the OAS (2008-2012), consul assigned to the Raleigh Consulate in the United States. (2004-2008) and representative in the Mexican mission to the United Nations Office in Geneva (1999-2004).
His career of more than two decades in diplomatic functions reflects a career specialized in multilateral affairs, consular protection and international management.
For the independent press in Mexico, the Morena government has caused mistreatment of Ornelas’ career.
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