The former president of Peru, Pedro Castillo, announced on Monday, March 10, that he is declaring a hunger strike as a sign of protest against the "politicized trial" against him for alleged charges of rebellion and abuse of authority. Castillo was removed and detained for attempting to assume more powers in December 2022.
In a letter shared on his social media, Castillo reiterates that he is being tried for acts he "never" committed and criticizes the judge in charge of the case for allegedly expressing an opinion against him to "force the criminal type of rebellion."
The former president expresses in his statement: "I inform my family and the Peruvian people that, exercising my human rights, I have decided to start a hunger strike from this date; an act that I am compelled to take due to the injustices being committed against me." The letter is also signed by former Defense Minister and lawyer Walter Ayala.
Castillo is involved in a judicial process for possible rebellion and abuse of authority due to the events of December 2022 when he attempted to dissolve Congress, call elections, and establish a state of emergency to implement the reforms promised during his electoral campaign.
The Prosecutor's Office of Peru has requested a sentence of 34 years in prison, a disqualification of three and a half years, and the payment of almost 65,600 Peruvian soles as civil compensation to the State for the former head of state.
Castillo's detention triggered one of the worst recent crises in Peru, with nearly fifty deaths in protests against his arrest and against the person who assumed command, who was then his vice president, Dina Boluarte.
