Dear President Biden, 

The undersigned individuals write to express our deep concern regarding the violent crackdown unleashed upon the Peruvian people by the Boluarte government. In the last two months, over 70 Peruvians demanding political change have been killed and thousands have been injured. These egregious human rights violations have been strongly condemned by leaders in Latin America and 20 House Democrats, who have called for your administration to halt all security assistance to Peru until the crackdown ends and the armed forces are held accountable for their human rights violations. 

We echo these demands and ask that your administration take a strong stand against the Peruvian government’s violent repression. 

The Peruvian people have been using their democratic rights to express their discontent with Dina Boluarte’s government. They demand her resignation, the closing of the congress, and the drafting of a new constitution. Instead of listening to the protesters, the Boluarte government has not only used lethal violence against its people but has also criminalized those speaking out, calling them terrorists, vandals, and criminals. Peru’s armed forces have selectively targeted indigenous peoples, children, students, women, and journalists with torture, kidnappings and assassinations. Major international leaders and institutions, such as the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), have publicly denounced Boluarte’s repressive violence. We ask that you also take this opportunity to send a strong message that your administration does not support human right abuses by halting all military assistance. 

We are concerned that your administration's hesitation to take a strong stance on this issue will only lead to more bloodshed and human rights violations. On February 6, the Boluarte government decreed a state of emergency for 60 days in seven of the country’s 24 regions that have large indigenous populations, deploying troops and suspending democratic rights, such as freedom of assembly and speech. 

President Biden, your administration has the right and the responsibility to stop enabling the repressive violence of Dina Boluarte’s government by halting military assistance used to indiscriminately repress the mostly indigenous and poor protesters. We call on you to do just that.