At least 14 people were killed in Peru before the presidential election | News in Peru
A massive offensive in a remote area of Peru known as coca-making occurs less than two weeks before the President’s departure.
At least 14 people, including two children, have been killed in a remote area of Peru known as cocaine, the military said on Monday, less than two weeks before voters went to the polls to run for president.
Peru’s police chief César Cervantes told N television that at least 18 people had been killed, with officials saying 14 people had been killed.
“I strongly condemn the killing of these 14 people,” said former Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti he wrote On Monday, he said he had ordered the supervision of the military and police in the area “so that the terrorists do not go unpunished”.
The killings took place in an area of Vizcatan de Ene, a region of the Amazon region of Peru, where officials believe they have been used as a cover for the Shining Path, a rebellion against the government in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
The mountainous region of Valle de los Rios Apurimac, Ene y Mantaro (VRAEM) is where 75% of the drug is found in South America, according to authorities. Police are suing the Shining Path for being a “protector” for drug traffickers.
“It looks like there will be a lot of deaths,” Cervantes told RPP radio on Monday.
The militants accused the Shining Path of being responsible for the killings, which they described as “killings”. But his remarks reassured the people of Peru of “a safe election”.
The United Nations condemned the “killings” and agreed with the victims and their families.
“In the way that elections are taking place, we urge all electorate to act responsibly, to avoid hate speech that fuels conflict,” the UN office in Lima said.
Peru is preparing for elections in less than two weeks, beating left-back Pedro Castillo against right-wing Keiko Fujimori.
Castillo has been gaining ground in Fujimori ahead of the June 6 election, finding 44.8% support in a study released Sunday by the Institute of Peruvian Study (IEP), compared with 34.4% in Fujimori.
But many Peruvians have commented frustration and fatigue before the first vote – in which Castillo and Fujimori receive 19% and 13%, respectively – as the country has been in crisis for many years.
Peru has been back hit hard and COVID-19 as well as the economic decline associated with coronavirus.
On Saturday, demonstrators marched on Lima and other major cities to display placards and shout, “Fujimori will never be found again.”
Fujimori’s father, former President Alberto Fujimori, is in jail on a charge of bribery.
