The state coup organised by the Peruvian oligarchy and US imperialism has unleashed a popular uprising. For almost two months, hundreds of thousands of peasants, workers and youth have taken to the streets demanding the resignation of the coup leader Boluarte and the dissolution of the parliament dominated by the right-wing and far-right that supports her.
As the mobilisation has grown, the usurper government has unleashed violent repression against those who are fighting back. The racist and elitist rhetoric and the campaign of criminalisation against the working-class and opressed has been combined with militarisation: a state of emergency has been declared in the regions of Puno, Cusco, Callao and Lima, the army and police have killed more than 60 demonstrators, and those injured by the firearms of the repressive forces and arrested are countless.
In the face of this criminal response from the state and government, the people, workers and student youth have heroically resisted, blocking roads all over the country, paralysing activity in the mining sector and mobilising towards Lima, the capital, with crowded streets clamouring against this murderous government.
Following outbreaks in other countries of the continent, Peruvian people have promoted a great National Strike in various sectors, which has incorporated countless indigenous, peasant, workers' and students' organisations. As a result, committees, popular assemblies and organisms of struggle have arisen to maintain the battle.
A great example of this has been the organisation of the March of the Four Regions in Lima on 19 January. Hundreds of thousands of people, coming from the four corners of the country, made their way to the capital in a huge mobilisation. In an inspiring display of self-organisation, the caravans received tons of food wherever they went, while thousands of Lima residents organised the welcome.
Students from the University of Lima, the National University of Engineering and the National University of San Marcos occupied the campuses and turned them into operational camps for the uprising, also playing a frontline role in the march. Once again, repression could not stop the masses in struggle, and the demonstration in Lima was a success, paralysing the city.
In retaliation, two days later, Dina Boluarte’s government sent hundreds of police armed to the teeth to raze the university campuses. The shocking image of tanks entering the UNMSM has gone around the world. Hundreds of students were arrested, beaten, tortured and sexually assaulted. At this moment, it is estimated that 200 young people are still arbitrarily imprisoned. In solidarity with the imprisoned university students, academic activity has been halted throughout the country and students have taken to the streets, placing themselves at the forefront of the uprising. The images of young people on the front line are reminiscent of the uprisings in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia.
From the Students' Union of the Spanish State and from Izquierda Revolucionaria, we stand in solidarity with the people and youth of Peru and their struggle to put an end to this lackey government and to capitalist and imperialist oppression. As internationalist organisations, we want to denounce the cowardly role of the Spanish government, and of its president Pedro Sánchez, who from the first moment supported the coup leader Dina Boluarte, and bowed to the dictate of Biden's State Department, turning his back on the Peruvian people.
We want to convey this solidarity to all the families of the victims, to all wounded and arrested comrades, to all fighters who are an inspiration to the oppressed of the world. We are well aware that the struggle for a dignified future, for public health and education, for employment, against poverty and cuts, for the rights of women, indigenous people and the LGTBI collective, involves throwing these right-wingers out of power and putting an end to the Peruvian and international capitalist system. There is no way out under capitalism and imperialism: workers' and socialist power must be built, the order of the oligarchy must be overthrown. It is time for socialist revolution.
Long live the uprising of the people and youth of Peru!
Down with the murderous government of Dina Boluarte!
Long live the Peruvian socialist revolution!
Madrid, 27 January 2023
