Second activist killed protecting communal reserve; Violent clashes in transport strike

Association

Matsigenka leader found dead amid tensions over land conflicts

On 6th October 2024, Peruvian authorities discovered the body of Gerardo Keimari Enrique, a 25-year-old leader of the Matsigenka community and advocate for environmental protection, along the Madre de Dios River in Manu district. Keimari, last heard from on 16th September, had informed his community of his plans to travel to Cusco. His death is under investigation, with authorities examining potential links to recent threats he received amid efforts to expand and protect Matsigenka lands.

The Shipetiari and Queros communities, located in Cusco and Madre de Dios, form part of the northeastern protective belt of the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve within the Kosñipata coca-growing basin. Recent monitoring has highlighted significant security and land rights issues due to the growth of illegal coca cultivation and the ongoing struggle for territorial expansion.

Keimari worked on expanding his community’s protected lands within the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve, a project opposed by groups seeking forestry concessions. On 26th July 2024, Keimari and other Matsigenka members faced an armed assault during a land expansion effort. Authorities activated protection measures for Keimari and other community members. Despite these protections, Keimari continued to receive threats after helping identify those involved in the July attack, with recent threats suggesting retaliation for his role in naming people linked to the concession dispute.

This incident occurred just a few months after Indigenous peoples declared a permanent state of emergency in the Peruvian Amazon in response to escalating violence. It further underscored the targeted violence against Indigenous defenders in Madre de Dios, with Keimari becoming the second such fatality. Previously, on 19th April 2024, unknown assailants ambushed and killed Victorio Dariquebe Gerewa, a 61-year-old Indigenous Harakbut park ranger.

The Ombudsman’s Office called upon the Peruvian National Police and the Public Prosecutor’s Office to conduct a thorough and expedited investigation to clarify the circumstances and assign responsibility. Additionally, it emphasised the necessity of implementing immediate measures to ensure the protection of the deceased leader’s family.

Peaceful Assembly

Public transport workers strike

On 10th and 11th October 2024, public transport workers in Lima and Callao initiated a strike, demanding urgent measures to counteract violence from criminal organisations and the repeal of recent legislation perceived as impeding justice. Transport operators have expressed growing concerns over escalating violence and extortion within the sector. On 11th October, protesters clashed with police, and as a result four journalists were injured (see expression).

On 26th September 2024, the government declared a 60-day state of emergency in 12 districts around Lima. This measure allows the armed forces to support law enforcement, conduct patrols and perform warrantless searches of vehicles, properties and people in the affected areas. Prior to this declaration, approximately 15,000 police officers were deployed to address the situation.

Citizen insecurity is reflected in the surge of extortion complaints. Between 2021 and 2023, these complaints quintupled, rising from 4,510 to 22,162 cases, as reported by the Citizen Security Observatory of the Ministry of the Interior. By the end of September 2024, 13,372 extortion complaints had been filed. As of October 2024, Peru recorded 1,493 homicides, according to data from the Death Information System (SINADEF) of the Ministry of Health. This figure indicates that 2024 could become the year with the highest homicide rate in the country over the past decade.

The strike also targeted the recent enactment of Law 32,108, which redefines criminal organisations in a way that makes it more challenging for prosecutors to investigate and dismantle extortion networks.

In late October 2024, public transport drivers and food market workers across Peru initiated their third protest within a month. On 24th October, the strike left Lima’s streets largely devoid of public buses, causing significant public disruption. In response, authorities deployed over 13,000 police officers and soldiers throughout the capital and suspended in-person classes for nearly two million students.

The situation intensified on 28th October as hundreds of protesters blocked sections of the Panamericana Norte highway, setting fire to a trailer carrying recyclable materials. The resulting dense smoke severely disrupted traffic along one of the region’s major routes. During the clashes between protesters and the police, four protesters were detained and six people sustained injuries: four protesters and two members of the National Police of Peru (PNP) all suffering multiple contusions.

Among the injured was 19-year-old Edwin Canchachi Dionisio, who was struck in the chest by a bullet during a protest in La Libertad. Media reports said that the bullet came from a police contingent. On 30th October, further reports emerged alleging that police had fired upon protesters during the protests.

UNMSM students protest for electoral transparency

On 17th October 2024, students at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM) initiated an occupation of university facilities to demand increased transparency in institutional elections. What began as a peaceful demonstration escalated into violent confrontations following alleged interference by university staff, who entered the campus and disrupted the protests.

The Philosophy Student Centre at UNMSM reported that at least nine students sustained injuries during recent incidents on campus. According to student testimonies, Fernando Zito Beraún Mora, an employee in the IT department of the General Office of Welfare, allegedly assaulted a woman student near parking area 13 by striking her with a belt. Additionally, José Miguel Arias Azabache, a staff member formerly associated with the university cafeteria, reportedly obstructed a student’s exit, verbally instructing her that she was not permitted to leave through the specified gate.

Ombudsman’s Report: over 600 protests in three months

The Ombudsman’s Office reported over 600 collective protests across Peru from May to June 2024. In July, 287 protests were documented, with the majority (61.3 per cent) comprising sit-ins or rallies and 24.7 per cent consisting of marches. The regions with the highest levels of protest activity were Lima (45), Arequipa (34), Cajamarca (20), Piura (17), and Lambayeque (15). During protests held from 27th to 29th July, targeting both the Executive and Congress, five people—three civilians and two police officers—sustained injuries.

In August 2024, 224 collective protests occurred, with sit-ins and rallies comprising 64.6 per cent and marches 12.5 per cent. Lima once again registered the highest number of protests (49), followed by Piura (19), Arequipa (15), Puno (12) and Cajamarca (12).

Finally, in September, the Ombudsman’s Office recorded 150 collective protests, with no reported deaths or injuries.

Expression

Attacks against journalists during national strike coverage in Lima

On 10th October 2024, four journalists experienced assaults while covering the national strike (see peaceful assembly). The incidents occurred as follows:

• Enzo Vidal, a cameraman filming live outside Congress, was shoved and elbowed by a police officer, despite wearing a press vest clearly identifying him as media. The officer verbally insulted Vidal and other journalists, even though they were positioned separately from the protesters.
• Photojournalist Juan Mandamiento was capturing images of police dispersing protesters with batons on Av. Abancay, when he was pushed and struck with a baton by a police officer. He attempted to protect himself, taking the impact on his arm.
• Noelia Vallvé, a reporter, was struck with a baton after becoming trapped between police lines. Despite holding her camera, displaying press credentials and verbally identifying herself, the officer continued to hit and push her to obstruct identification.
• At the intersection of Jirón Lampa and Jirón Cusco, journalist Victor Castillo from America TV was pushed by police officers with their shields while reporting the arrest of three persons. This caused him to fall onto a motorcycle, resulting in a bruise on his left leg.

The National Association of Journalists of Peru (ANP) strongly condemned these incidents, urging the police to respect the role of the press. It called for an end to violence against journalists, identification of the officers involved and appropriate disciplinary action.

Cuarto Poder journalist receives death threats

On 20th October 2024, José Miguel Hidalgo, a journalist with the Sunday programme Cuarto Poder, reported receiving death threats following his investigation into Callao Governor Ciro Castillo and the alleged influence of his son, Antonio Castillo, over political decisions within the regional government.

Hours before the broadcast of his report titled “Antonio Castillo: The Power Behind the Governor of Callao,” Hidalgo received an intimidating video on WhatsApp. In the clip, an armed man issues explicit threats, warning Hidalgo to stop his coverage of Callao’s political figures and to cancel the report. Phrases such as, “Stop showing the people of Callao” and “I know where you are, don’t make me come to your house with a bomb,” were among the numerous threats. The man, claiming to represent the Tren de Aragua gang, is shown brandishing a pistol, further heightening the threatening nature of the message.

Hidalgo revealed that he had received calls from the same number days before the video was sent, though he had not answered. He noted that the only official from the Regional Government of Callao with his contact information was the head of the public relations office, who had it for potential comments on the allegations in his report.

Journalists face rising threats and judicial harassment

Between January and September 2024, 251 attacks against journalists and media outlets were recorded in Peru, as reported by the National Association of Journalists of Peru reported. This period has been characterised by heightened tensions between the government and the press, particularly surrounding investigative reporting. The most prevalent type of attack was threats and harassment, with 119 incidents followed by physical and verbal assaults, which occurred 40 times.

Public officials were identified as the main aggressors, responsible for 105 attacks, followed closely by civilians, who accounted for 101 incidents. Security agents were involved in 30 cases, unidentified people in 8, and employers in 7. Digital media outlets were the most frequent targets, with 104 incidents, followed by television (65), radio (41) and print media (41).

According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Peru has experienced a significant decline in press freedom, dropping 48 places in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index over the past two years. Between August and September 2024, RSF documented 20 press freedom violations, many involving public officials targeting journalists.

Ongoing political crises in 2024 have led to targeted harassment of investigative journalists. Notable figures include Minister Juan José Santiváñez, who has been documented harassing journalists such as Marco Sifuentes, César Hildebrandt, Ricardo Velazco and Karla Ramírez. President Dina Boluarte has adopted a combative stance towards the press, with defamation accusations and impediments to coverage in regions like Piura, San Martín and Lima. Congress members Alejandro Soto, Darwin Espinoza, Vivian Olivos and María Agüero have also engaged in harassment cases, including a serious incident where Cuarto Poder reporter José Miguel Hidalgo was subjected to surveillance.