Commissions

On January 15, 2022, an oil spill was reported along the entire coastline of the Ventanilla district in Peru, originating from the La Pampilla Refinery, which is operated by Repsol. This caused a major environmental disaster, creating a large black slick on the beaches of Ventanilla, extending into the Ancón district and reaching districts in the northern provinces of the country. Extensive damage was inflicted on the ecosystem and wildlife. It is estimated that some 6,000 barrels of oil were spilled along the Peruvian coast, devastating the marine ecosystem. In the following weeks, several marches were held to protect the environment, and various environmental groups even marched to the La Pampilla Refinery to voice their protest. Many artisanal fishermen were affected by this environmental disaster. Businesses in the ports ground to a halt, leaving no one with a means of support to bring home. This crisis lasted for several weeks. The cleanup in all affected areas took several months, and some places were inaccessible due to the difficult terrain. It is known that, even now, this oil spill continues to spread like a cancer along the coastal beaches of the capital, leaving in its wake immense damage to the ecosystem and wildlife. Studies indicate that this environmental catastrophe is considered the worst ecological disaster in Peruvian history.

The 2021 presidential elections were held in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The electoral process was relatively short due to the state of emergency and restrictions on public gatherings, especially political rallies.

Alfredo Barnechea, the presidential candidate from the Popular Action party, revived the “bread with pork crackling” strategy that years earlier had contributed to the loss of his presidential bid. This time, he visited several informal settlements, but the strategy failed to generate significant public support.

Andrés Alcántara, the presidential candidate for the Direct Democracy party, joined members of FONAVI and organized several marches through different districts, but these efforts produced little impact.

Verónika Mendoza, leader of the Together for Peru party, once again ran for the presidency. Like in her previous campaign, she was unable to gain sufficient support from the country’s voters.

César Acuña, owner of César Vallejo University and former regional governor of La Libertad, once again traveled across Peru seeking popular support for the presidency. However, after a few months, his approval ratings declined, leaving him out of the electoral race.

Daniel Urresti, the former Minister of the Interior, initially enjoyed strong public approval because of his efforts to combat crime while serving as minister. Nevertheless, his campaign was affected by the legal proceedings he faced in connection with the murder of journalist Hugo Bustíos during the period of terrorism.

Former football player George Forsyth resigned as mayor of La Victoria in order to run for president. He toured several areas of Lima, but his campaign failed to attract enough support.

After the first-round voting, the results were extremely close, making it uncertain who would become Peru’s next president. Yonhy Lescano, representing the Popular Action party, emerged as one of the surprise candidates, but he did not receive enough votes to advance. The same happened to Rafael López Aliaga of the Popular Renewal party. Both candidates campaigned throughout different parts of the country and held numerous political rallies, but their competitors ultimately received more votes.

The runoff election came down to two candidates: Keiko Fujimori of the Popular Force party, who was running for the presidency for the third time, and Pedro Castillo of Peru Libre.

Keiko Fujimori traveled throughout the country seeking electoral support, but she struggled to gain approval from voters in southern Peru. In contrast, Pedro Castillo enjoyed strong support in the southern regions, the northeastern part of the country, and several other departments across Peru.

Finally, after a closely contested second round, the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE) announced the official results. Pedro Castillo won with 50.126% of the vote, while Keiko Fujimori received 49.874%. Castillo was declared the winner of the presidency. He appeared on a balcony with his arms outstretched in celebration before thousands of supporters, unaware of the events that would unfold during his presidency.

No to abuse! Truckers’ strike in Peru. The constant rise in fuel prices and excessive toll charges triggered this protest by the heavy cargo and interprovincial bus transport sector. The road blockades at various points throughout the country resulted in delays in the delivery of food supplies to major city markets, the disruption of ambulances transporting COVID-19 patients, and the impediment to the transport of oxygen cylinders to supply hospitals and medical clinics. During March 2021, the Central Highway was the most critical point of the indefinite strike. Trucks and interprovincial buses blocked access to Lima and other provinces, demanding that their grievances be heard by the relevant authorities. Stones and burning tires were among the objects used to obstruct the passage of vehicles. Days later, the police proceeded to clear the roads blocked by the protesters, which led to a confrontation with the officers that resulted in several arrests. The Central Highway was cleared for free vehicular traffic. To date, the truckers’ demands remain unresolved.

Discontent in Ica. Agricultural workers blocked the Pan-American Highway South for several days. They were rightfully demanding the approval of the new agricultural promotion law by the Congress of the Republic. Wages and labor abuses were among their grievances against state institutions. “We receive a salary of 39 soles for 12 hours of work per day; sometimes, we only get 20 or 15 soles. Some of us are parents, and that wage isn’t enough,” said one of the farmworkers. In the following days of conflict, several people were injured on both sides: police and protesters. Interprovincial transportation to several southern regions of the country was also paralyzed. Many passengers were stranded in the middle of nowhere due to the standoff. A dialogue table was established, leading to a temporary agreement that did not harm anyone on either side. Agricultural export workers are the main source of income for society; their struggle continues and their battle to change the history of agriculture is constant.

Impeachment and outrage were the words that erupted in November 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. The so-called “impeachment motion” brought by members of Congress passed with 105 votes in favor, 19 against, and 4 abstentions, exceeding the number of votes required by the Constitution. This resulted in the removal of Martín Vizcarra (former president of Peru) and the immediate appointment of Manuel Merino as interim president, along with a cabinet whose members were unpopular with the thousands of citizens who were then struggling with the Coronavirus. This act was perceived as repression by the population. Large marches took place across the country, and the citizens’ struggle united under the slogan “They messed with the wrong generation.” During the following weeks, large-scale demonstrations by citizens, student groups, and social organizations took place throughout the country. There were clashes between police and protesters, which resulted in several arbitrary arrests and hundreds of injuries on both sides.

By the beginning of the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, more than one million people had been infected across almost all of Peru. Healthcare measures were overwhelmed by the wave of infections. The death rate was becoming a part of our daily lives. In mid-February 2021, the first shipment of vaccines to prevent COVID-19 arrived in Peru. Vaccination facilities were quickly set up to immunize the population and reduce the impact of the pandemic. New vaccination methods were created, such as the drive-through vaccination centers. Hundreds of families drove to large areas where vaccination tents were set up, allowing them to be vaccinated without leaving their vehicles. This method was implemented in all districts of Lima. At the same time, vaccination hours were extended to 24 hours a day for all ages, on weekends only. The fumigation program was implemented in the most vulnerable sectors of each district, as well as in all cemeteries in the city of Lima and surrounding provinces. In the following months, the number of infections decreased as the days went by. Economically, shopping centers, markets, and stores slowly but steadily recovered their income levels. Peru and other countries managed to contain COVID-19, at least temporarily. But the aftermath of the coronavirus left many families scarred, and others with the void left by the loss of loved ones in an instant. The virus was not completely eradicated; it remains among us as part of 21st-century society, a constant presence, watching for any lapse in human vigilance.

In 2021, the increase in COVID-19 infections and deaths reached alarming levels. The country was experiencing one of its worst moments in terms of mortality rate. Amid this tragedy, a precious treatment option emerged for patients: oxygen tanks. In the healthcare field, these tanks allow for the storage of oxygen and were used to provide assisted breathing and pulmonary ventilation for people with Coronavirus. Given this news, within hours and at different points in the city of Lima, enormous lines of people of all ages were seen carrying their oxygen tanks. On several occasions, they camped out for days to refill their tanks. The mortality rate saw a temporary decrease. The oxygen tanks somewhat slowed the spread of infections in Metropolitan Lima. However, not everyone was able to get them in time; in some locations, the supply of refilled tanks couldn’t keep up with demand, and several deaths were recorded. The names of many families registered on the balls were erased due to the neglect and oblivion left by COVID-19.

The beginning of a difficult period for Peru. It is known for certain that the virus, called COVID-19, emerged in the Wuhan area of ​​China in 2020. The symptoms of this deadly virus began with severe headaches, chills throughout the body, and damage to the lungs and other major organs. It quickly claimed many victims in the Asian country. The necessary measures were taken to prevent its spread, but they were not enough. In the following months, the virus had spread to almost every corner of the world, and Peru was no exception. In March 2020, the first case of coronavirus was reported in the country. It didn’t take long for it to spread throughout the city. The government at the time, under Martín Vizcarra, ordered a total quarantine in Peru. For several months, hundreds of families were unable to leave their homes, and by national decree, the hours for leaving home to go to work or shop were severely restricted. Lima was a deserted city. Despite strict health measures, the following weeks revealed the consequences of the indefinite quarantine: A) More infections occurred in Lima’s neighborhoods, and this spread rapidly through several districts of the city. B) Informal commerce grew due to the scarcity of economic resources among citizens. C) The economic rate plummeted due to the lack of employment; there were large layoffs in workplaces throughout 2020. Hospitals were overwhelmed by the number of daily infections, and a large number of people died from the COVID-19 virus. In mid-2020, with a temporary slowdown in the country’s mortality rate (deaths) due to temporary vaccinations and fever and swab tests at various hospitals and health centers in each district, the Peruvian government decreed the reopening of free movement for people, provided they wore masks. Businesses also reopened to allow the economy to return to normal. Every sector of commerce, across all fields, had to comply with health regulations: masks, social distancing, protective gloves, and so on. In 2020, the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of people died overnight. No social stratum was immune to the contagion; the infection was deadly for everyone. It is estimated that approximately one million people were infected that year, unaware that the virus would silently strike again.

On January 23, 2020, at approximately 6:45 a.m., a Transgas gas tanker truck was involved in an accident in Villa El Salvador. The truck was traveling along Villa del Mar Avenue until it reached the intersection with Mariano Pastor Revilla Avenue, which had a dip in the road. While attempting to cross this section, the truck hit the road hard, causing a valve to rupture and an explosion that resulted in a large-scale catastrophe. The fire spread for several meters around the area. Many families were either very close to the gas leak or asleep in their homes. This contributed to the explosion sweeping across several blocks, destroying everything in its path. Thirty-four people were reported dead and around thirty were injured. Many suffered severe burns, and the scene was devastating. Entire families were left grieving and living with the trauma of that day’s catastrophe. A year later, a mass was held for those who died in the explosion. Survivors appeared bearing the marks of the tragic event. Children and adults alike were left with burns and lifelong scars. The houses were rebuilt, and a monument was erected in memory of all those who lost their lives and left their families with the void of sudden loss.

The South American country went through one of the worst crises in its history. The trigger for these events was the increase in fares for Santiago’s public transportation system, which went into effect on October 6, 2019. Following this, thousands of high school students organized mass fare evasion protests on the Santiago metro. The demand for a decent pension and an immediate overhaul of the country’s economic system also led to an explosion of public outrage. In the following days, the marches intensified, and national anger grew steadily. Faced with these serious circumstances, Chilean President Sebastián Piñera declared a state of emergency and a curfew in several regions of the country. In the days that followed, the military took to the streets—something unseen since the Pinochet dictatorship. In response, citizens raised their voices in protest. Plaza Italia then became the symbol of this indignation. It drew thousands of people of all ages who, with banners, music, and marches, demanded the president’s resignation and a new constitution. Providencia Avenue and other streets near Plaza Italia became the battleground between young students and the Carabineros (police), who did not hesitate to fire indiscriminately. Many civilians, police officers, and journalists (both Chilean and foreign) were injured, and several businesses were set ablaze in various parts of the Chilean capital. The National Institute for Human Rights identified 19 deaths, nearly 2,500 injuries, and 2,840 arrests. They also reported cases of torture and other abuses by the Armed Forces and law enforcement.