Relatives of victims of Peru protests call for 'prompt investigation and justice'

Relatives and representatives of victims of the repression of violent protests against the government in Peru, on January 9, denounced irregularities in the investigation of the events, which left 18 protesters dead and some 180 injured.

In the demonstrations in Juliaca, the main city of the high Andean region of Puno, a policeman was also burned to death, until now the only member of the security forces who has lost his life in the mobilizations that began in December.

"In Puno there has been a massacre, they have killed civilians with firearms, Puno needs prompt justice, it's been about two months and the [fiscal] proceedings have not yet been carried out," said Wilmer Quiroz, a lawyer for Victims at a press conference.

He recounted that the investigation had been delayed since it was initially in the hands of police officers and prosecutors specialised in organised crime, who ended up leaving the case to a common prosecutor's office in Juliaca.

According to Quiroz, this office has only collected documents and only last week began reviewing the videos that record the incidents on January 9.

The relatives also demand that investigations be initiated against the heads of the operation, as well as the opening in Puno of a specialised human rights prosecutor's office.

Peru has experienced about two months of social unrest after President Dina Boluarte took office to replace Pedro Castillo, who was ousted by Congress.