Peru declares Colombian leader persona non grata

The Peruvian Congress declared Colombian President Gustavo Petro a “persona non grata” in the country for his statements to the police.

In the vote carried out in the General Assembly of the Congress of the Republic, the motion was accepted with 72 votes in favor, 29 against and 7 abstentions. In the statement that followed the decision, it was indicated that “the criminal complaints of the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, against our National Police of Peru were rejected and motion No. 5607 was approved, which proposed declaring him persona non grata.”

In his February 12 statement, President Petro, referring to the ongoing anti-government protests in Peru, used the phrase: “In Peru, they are marching like Nazis against their own people, in violation of the American Convention on Human Rights.”

According to the Peruvian press, 64 people have lost their lives in the demonstrations since December 11, 2022, and the number of injured has exceeded 1,700.

Protests in Peru began after Congress removed former President Pedro Castillo from office on December 7, 2022. The protesters are demanding the resignation of President Boluarte, the calling of early elections, and the release of former President Pedro Castillo, who is in custody. (AA)