 Welcome to what the F is going on in Latin America and the Caribbean. A popular resistance broadcast of hot news out of the region. In partnership with Black Alliance for Peace Haiti Americas team, Code Pink, Common Frontiers, Council on Hemispheric Affairs, Friends of Latin America, Interreligious Task Force on Central America, Massachusetts Peace Action, and Task Force on the Americas, we broadcast Thursdays at 4.30 p.m. Pacific, 7.30 p.m. Eastern, right here on YouTube Live, including channels for the Convo Pouch, Popular Resistance, and Code Pink. Post-broadcast recordings can be found at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Telegram, RedIndia.com, and now under Podcasts at PopularResistance.org. Today's episode, Peru. People are not statistics. In today's episode, I want to share with you some of the key findings from the preliminary report of the Human Rights delegation that I participated on earlier this month. So let me just start right in on the preliminary report findings. The International Mission of Solidarity and Human Rights arrived in Peru on February 7, 2023, and deployed the work in the territory until the 13th of the same month. Our main objectives were to survey situations of human rights violations in the context of the political and social crisis taking place in Peru, to elaborate a preliminary report that shows the immediate results of what was verified in the territory, to elaborate a final report, which in a meticulous manner makes visible the testimonies and denunciations at a national and international level, to contribute to the international articulation in defense, promotion, and protection of human rights throughout the region in order to mitigate the repressive actions of the current regime. This is the coup government that was installed December 7, 2022, and this was also our biggest ask as a delegation through all cities that we visited was to break the Peruvian government narrative and to break the corporate media narrative, which all are both articulating the right-wing narrative. And so we have been asked to get these stories out into the international community. So the testimonies gathered for the preliminary report reveal common features regarding the repressive actions of the armed and security forces throughout the territory, which show the systemic way in which the security forces and the armed forces of the current regime act, specifically the National Police of Peru. The political crisis unleashed as of December 7, 2022, resulted in the emergence of a combative impulse that had been brewing for some time on the basis of great social discontent. The protests began in the peripheries, particularly with the resource of roadblocks, which caused a supply crisis in the central cities, and then moved to the center, particularly to the city of Lima. And we have done a couple WTF episodes specifically focused on Lima, and I will share those links in the program notes for you so you can review those conversations. Those who led the struggle and took over the public spaces, especially streets and highways, were the popular sectors, peasants, campesinos, indigenous communities from different regions, joined by the self-convenient population of the capital city. These groups turned out to be the main target of the repressive actions of the state. And so where did we view the repressive actions of the state? We split up into small teams. I should first just let you know we were a delegation of 19, 18 Argentinians and me being the sole representative of the United States. We broke into smaller teams and went to Ayacucho, Juliaca, Ica, Cusco, and Lima. I was sent to Cusco. And over the course of the time we were in these five cities, we surveyed 147 cases. So what did those 147 cases include? We looked at, we interviewed people who were found guilty of being present or repressed, found guilty and or simply repressed. Why shouldn't they simply, it's quite violently repressed because they were present at a mobilization. They were repressed for being in the vicinity of a mobilization and not being related to any organizational forms. No political party, no social movement, no labor movement, nothing of the sort. They were repressed for participating in political, trade union, social, and student organizations. And also repressed for being a social and or political activist. And so now when we took these testimonies, we also did gather evidence. So each testimony does have photos and or videos. If the person was hospital hospitalized as a result of the repression, we have the hospital forms, entry and admission and, and in some cases the people are still there. And then also if they were incarcerated, they were legally detained, arbitrarily detained, we do have the police records as well. So each case does come with evidence, not just an interview. So what is the current situation of these 147 people interviewed? One T plus percent of the people are recovering at home. Nineteen plus percent are deceased. Sixteen plus percent continue to live under threat and or coercion by police, by military, and by other right-wing forces, including political organizations. Sixteen plus percent, the person is injured and recovering at home. Nine plus percent, the person has been released after unlawful deprivation of liberty, which we would call the state's unlawful detention. Seven plus percent have been deprived of liberty regarding criminal proceedings. Seven plus percent remain hospitalized. So that's the overall preliminary results. So let me tell you a little bit about what I personally experienced in putting these cases together. Again, I was sent to Cusco. We were a team of two. Two days to intense days interviewing people who voluntarily came to the center that we were taking testimony at. And I will reiterate. I think those of you who watched last week's episode, we were working with the Human Rights Center in Cusco. And I will send their. Their social media links so that you can find them. Last week, we interviewed Lainer and it would be great if you could take a second look at that at the comments that he made live from Cusco last week. So we again, we were a team of two. Much of what we saw and heard was of repression committed by the National Police Force of Peru. And I want to. I want to emphasize the National Police Force of Peru, because this is a model that we are seeing across the Americas, that governments are using civilian police to repress civilian populations. They are not using the national military. And so this is often. Perceived. As okay. By the international community and also because it is civilian, repressing civilian. But in the case of Peru today and in many other countries, including our own, I would add. What happens is that the police are right down at the, at the neighborhood level. And can stop any political activity. Right there. And so the repression starts right at the community level. And, and that is why so many of these delegations in Southern Peru have been put together and. And moved their, their protest to Lima to the capital, you know, for a national audience. So again, I was in Cusco. This is in the Andean south. Of Peru, which is where most of the violent repression is occurring. The reason for that being is that that area is rich in natural resources, lithium. Water also, and other rare earth minerals. And of course, the people that live in these regions are principally. Indigenous original. People's as they say in Peru, we say indigenous in the States and compassinos. So those are the targeted people. And in those regions, specifically what we personally experienced. In Cusco, as with most major cities in Peru, we were unable to enter the city center. Without proof of ID and or car registration and a police interrogation. Now keep in mind. For the two of us visiting Cusco, our logistics, lodging meals, travel, transportation and meetings. We're arranged by the district staff of Cusco's Congresswoman who invited the delegation and has since been brought up on ethics charges by the Peruvian Congress for doing so. So even being there by an official invitation. By Congress and being in this Congress's district. And escorted in many cases by her staff. We were still prevented. From entering the city center. We were still subject to questioning and producing documentation for being there. Now, in addition to be being prevented for entering the city center. Police surround public gathering spaces. Such as parks. They secure most public and government buildings, as well as airports and main traffic arteries. This was not unique to Cusco. It was a very unique experience. It was a very unique experience. Those of us in the other four cities experienced much of the same. And I want to share with you something specific. About the airport. Now we used. The Lima airport. We took a domestic flight from Lima to Cusco. And again, a domestic flight Cusco back. Back to Lima. And this is what we experienced. You cannot enter the airport. And I did transportation for you to the airport has to drop you at curbside on the country. And on the sidewalk, you line up. With all the other travelers. And you. In order to enter the. Airport parking lot. You have to enter on foot. And then you have to show your ID. To national police and or military, whoever's guarding. The entrance to show your national ID, which in my case was my passport. And you also have to show your boarding pass. And then you can enter the airport. And walk to, to your departure terminal. And it was that was the keys in Lima flying to Cusco. And again, it was the situation in Cusco. Flying back. To Lima. International arrivals are allowed to have. You have to get out of the car. They can come pick you up. And then leave. For international departures again. You are dropped curbside and have to walk in. So that is just one. Example, one pretty stark example of how the military. Really. Really, really. Surveying. Who is coming and going and. And again, it's not done with security. It's done with national police and or, or military. So it's, it's pretty. It's intimidating. To say the least. So that was a very personal experience and, and also again, not being able to enter the city center. And of course this is, this is nationwide city centers, parks, government buildings, public buildings, all secured by police. So what I want to do. In the next few minutes is show you. A couple of sets of photographs. And I want to start with. Really with Kusco. Really terrific photographer Manuel Ortiz. Who. Who is a great photojournalist on the ground in Peru right now. And he was. Taking photos. Juliaco to Kusco. And I want to start there. Because if you're in the city center, you'll have to take a photo of the city center. And I want to show. And I want to start there. Because it will show you. Who exactly is being oppressed. It will show you the faces of the people actually being. Oppressed. Repressed. And then I want to go back to February nine. Which was a. Very large protest in Lima. But of course. The protestors. And in other words, we were asked to show up. And create a. A line of defense between. The military and the protesters should the military. Advance. And break up. The protest. So I want you to see the people of Southern Peru. going to Lima and I will show you in Marcos Ciaro's photographs what the police reaction is. So hopefully I can screen share properly and let me get these up for you. I don't think I'm sharing. Here we go. So hopefully I did this correctly. So this first photograph is me and my company what is we were the two sent to Cusco. This photograph was taken after an originals people's meeting we had in Cusco. Now I will say this was a totally impromptu meeting. This family, the SAC, heard we were in town and came and wanted to share not just their current experience but also their history of an originals people, their relationship with the earth and the precariousness that the entire earth and all of its peoples are in at this at this moment. This meeting was probably one of the most profound meetings I've had in my 40 years of Latin American activism and also I will add it was a it was a meeting held. It was Quechua with Spanish translation Spanish to Quechua. So on a cultural level it was a really profound experience. The what these people are living with today is really pretty horrifying. So let me show you more of Manuel's photos and again these are in Culeaca to Cusco this is a southern part of Peru. These are beautiful photographs and I just really want to uplift his work but I really want all of you to see the demographic that is being repressed and repressed because they live on natural resources such as lithium water and other rare earth minerals. And again these are Manuel Ortiz's photos. I'll share with you in the program notes where you can find his work. Now here is a really great example of the roadblocks I had mentioned when first starting this conversation with you and you can see more clearly here on the plurinational flag of course that cannot be ignored. Not just the Peruvian national flag but the plurinational flag is hugely important to see as well. Okay so this was southern. Now I want to go back to February 9 and I want to show you this March from February 9. I know this is in reverse but this March on February 9 was in the evening. It was in Lima in the city center. Again we were asked to help secure the safety of the protesters should the military, national police get violent. This is a photograph of the 19 of us and this is the evening before we went out and here we are going to the center. This is what we saw on our way. Again please notice it's Policia Nacional more. We haven't even arrived at the march at the march yet and we're still seeing police this is some of the equipment no the suppression equipment they use and so here are the people gathering and again you know please notice the demographic and these are police on the side. Here is a really great shot of of the march. Now again these are Marco Marcosiores' photos. What I want you to notice in this photo is that it's a large crowd it's not huge and what began to happen the police began to get closer and closer and closer to the march as it got a little bigger and as it lasted a little longer and this is a typical model throughout the Americas right now that the national police and the military only let and I would say this is true in the States as well. March's protest political mobilizations are only allowed to get so large and they're only allowed to last so long regardless of how peaceful they are and this was a peaceful gathering. It was really it was very very inspiring and and very and very emotional too. So and here are more of us notice our blue vests this is again so that we're very clearly defined between the police and the protesters. Now you can see here how close the police are getting and I think I've got a photo in here that will really this is intelligence and security rooftops of Ireland of the march. There's another wonderful woman in southern Peru the way of a constitution we did a episode with you on February 2nd with two fabulous Peruvian female Peruvian activism which we talked at length about the new the desire for a new constitution and again I will share that particular episode link with you so you can review that if you want. Here's more of us more of the security intelligence this is a look from central Peru you can see how people have been victimized for their political views now here's the national police advancing on the march again it's people are only allowed to gather to a certain number and for a certain amount of time before a political event is broken up regardless of it being peaceful. Here's us forming a line of defense between the police and the protesters in the back and you'll see here the police are starting to advance and this is I couldn't even I don't even really remember maybe 20 rows deep maybe more and so the purpose was just to advance and break up the march and enforce everybody you know out of the out of the downtown central area now on this street that we were asked to secure the police marched very aggressively they did have their batons and you know and did break up the march around the block the march was broken up with live fire and tear gas that did not take place on the street that our human rights delegation was on but we did hear it but that's really aggressive repression takes place out of the view of human rights workers and out of the media and so here this is this photo gives you a really good idea of how many now keep in mind these police are advancing on the march these are not the police that we saw lining the streets as we were walking to the senate city center these are not the police who were sound surrounding the parks and and the government and public buildings these police are in addition to what we passed on our way to the city center and you can see there's more so so again this is from February 9th this was a peaceful protest that was created by delegations of of people coming up from the southern part of the country again indigenous people compasino students academics so anyway sharing with you the work of two really fantastic photojournalists uh Manuel Ortiz who is still there in Peru and then Marcos Ciotis who was um our official delegation uh media press for us and an official photographer so everyone that is the bulk of our preliminary report and I really wanted to to be sure to share with you the technicalities of what our delegation did we've had wonderful conversations with activists and I just think it's important to see the raw statistics of what we of what we discovered again every case we talked to is accompanied by uh by evidence and the final report will be out in the next few weeks uh so with that I just um I just want to thank you for for watching this short but important episode um I will be we'll be back next week with a full length episode of what the F is going on in Latin America and the Caribbean I should share with all of you that I will be at a peace summit here in Mexico City uh Thursday and Friday and we'll have some great things to share with you this is the principal conversation will be focused on immigration reform and it is a summit comprised of North Americans Central Americans and then we will have a day to interface with Mexican government officials before presenting a report to to the United States and hoping in hopes of affecting some immigration reform on the northern side of the the border anyway that's what I'm doing the next few days I'll be happy to share that with you next week but thank you so much for watching this specific episode and um and letting me share with you uh some really really important statistics of what was discovered on the human rights delegation I participated on earlier this month okay everyone just to remind you you've been watching what the F is going on in Latin America and the Caribbean we are a popular resistance broadcast you can find us on YouTube every Thursday evening 7 30 p.m eastern convo couch code pink and popular resistance youtube channels and post broadcast broadcast can be found on apple spotify or wherever you get your podcast so thanks again folks we'll see you next week