Morales has criticised the removal of former President Pedro Castillo, who tried to dissolve Peru’s Congress last month.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Peru has barred Bolivia’s socialist former President Evo Morales from entering its territory, a decision that Morales later derided as an attack meant to distract from Peru’s human rights violations.
Peru’s government announced the decision to ban Morales, along with eight other unidentified Bolivians, in a statement on Monday. The move follows weeks of deadly protests in Peru targeting President Dina Boluarte, the successor and former vice president to Pedro Castillo, who was removed from office last month.
An attempt in December by Castillo, who had been in office for less than two years, to unlawfully dissolve Congress ahead of a looming impeachment vote unleashed a new political crisis in the South American nation.
Some of the most prominent pro-Castillo protests have taken place in Peru’s southern regions, in historically left-leaning strongholds near the border with Bolivia.
At least 12 people died following clashes in Juliaca in southern Peru, a regional health ministry said on Monday.
The casualties take the death toll in the protests to 34.
The statement from Peru’s interior ministry said Bolivian citizens have entered the country in recent months to carry out political activities, violating immigration laws and undermining national security.
Morales, one of Latin America’s most prominent left-wing figures, has publicly backed Castillo, criticising his removal and subsequent arrest as illegal.
The Indigenous Bolivian leader served as president for some 14 years until 2019 when he resigned under intense pressure following a disputed election and mass protests.
Morales condemned the decision to deny him entry to Peru.
“Now they attack us to distract and dodge responsibility for grave violations of the human rights of our Peruvian brothers,” he wrote on Twitter, adding that political conflicts cannot be resolved with “expulsions, prohibitions or repression”.
Shortly after the ban was announced, Peru Prime Minister Alberto Otarola blamed Morales for stoking unrest.
“We are closely watching not only the attitude of Mr Morales, but also of those who work with him in southern Peru,” he told reporters. “They have been very active in promoting a situation of crisis.”
Last week, Peru’s defence minister also accused foreigners of stirring up divisive protests.
After Castillo was removed from office and detained on charges of fomenting rebellion, thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding Boluarte’s resignation, the release of Castillo, the closure of Congress and a new constitution.
Castillo remains behind bars in pre-trial detention.
