Peruvian massacre victims' families reject Fujimori's presidential bid

Families of victims from Peru's 2022-2023 anti-government protests have voiced strong opposition to the projected presidential victory of right-wing politician Keiko Fujimori. They argue that Fujimori, the daughter of a former dictator, has actively protected individuals implicated in the deaths of their relatives during the protests.

The Association of Martyrs and Victims, representing 49 individuals killed and dozens injured during protests against former President Dina Boluarte, held a demonstration outside the Palace of Justice. Milagros Samillán, a spokesperson for the group whose brother was killed in Juliaca, declared, "We will not accept a government from the daughter of a dictator." She asserted that Fujimori's party has used its influence in Congress to pass laws offering impunity to security forces responsible for the fatalities.

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We will not accept a government from the daughter of a dictator.

Displaying photographs of those who died in protests across several regions, the families stated that Fujimori, the political heir of ex-president Alberto Fujimori, does not represent them. They claim that Sánchez, not Fujimori, won decisively in southern Peru. Samillán vowed, "We have been marching for three years and we will not stop. We will confront a dictatorial government... to say no more impunity, no more shielding of those responsible for the murders and massacres."

The association believes a Fujimori presidency would reverse human rights progress nationwide. They also raised concerns about alleged electoral irregularities, particularly in the vote count from abroad, where Fujimori secured a win. The group questioned why the foreign vote was not digitized as it was in the first round, suggesting a manipulation of electoral rules that undermines public trust. They hold Fujimori responsible for potential future unrest, citing her father's past and her party's current legislative actions.

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We have been marching for three years and we will not stop. We will confront a dictatorial government... to say no more impunity, no more shielding of those responsible for the murders and massacres.