A bloc of left-wing countries meeting in Havana closed ranks in support of the ousted former president of Peru, Pedro Castillowhen the South American country is going through a strong crisis with protests and roadblocks leaving at least eight dead.
“We reject the political framework created by the right-wing forces of that country against the Constitutional President Pedro Castillo,” said the 10 member countries of the group, led by Bolivia, Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, as well as other Caribbean island nations.
A statement released late Wednesday said that the members of ALBA, a leftist cooperation platform, “repudiate the repression by the forces of order against the Peruvian people who defend a government elected at the polls and we call on the dialogue, understanding and sanity of all political actors”.
Former President Castillo, who has ruled since July 2021, was arrested last week after lawmakers in the opposition-controlled Congress voted to remove him.
currently is investigated for rebellion and conspiracy. Its former vice president, Dina Boluarte, took over as head of the government.
The ALBA summit it marked the 18th anniversary of its founding by the late former presidents Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro.
This week, the governments of Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia and Argentina, requested protection for the human and judicial rights of detainee Castillo.
The Government of Lima declared a “State of Emergency” on Wednesdayan unusual measure to try to stop the protests which allows the military to assist the police and restricts certain civil liberties, including the right to assembly.
The protesters are demanding the release of Castillo, the resignation of Boluarte, the dissolution of Congress and the holding of new elections.
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