PERU / USA – The Electoral Observation Mission of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Peru condemns the cowardly terrorist attack that killed 14 people on the night of May 23 and categorically rejects any type of intimidation against citizens.
Violence has no place in democracy. The Mission hopes that the authorities move swiftly in the investigation of this atrocious act and bring those responsible to justice.
Likewise, the Mission exhorts the political organizations in contention to carry out campaigns in which the exchange of respectful ideas and a constructive attitude in favor of Peru prevail. In addition, it expresses its concern about the attacks and threats against the National Elections Jury (JNE) and the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE), which seek to undermine confidence in the ongoing process and undermine its autonomy.
In this vein, it endorses the pronouncement of the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), in which it calls for “people who hold or aspire to hold a popularly elected position to protect public debate and the validity of human rights.”
The Mission will arrive in Peru at the beginning of next week to carry out the observation tasks corresponding to the second electoral round, which will be held on June 6. It is headed by the former foreign minister of Paraguay, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, and made up of specialists who will be deployed in the national territory and five cities abroad.
