Former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo was hospitalized after starting a hunger strike against his rebellion trial, which seeks a 34-year prison sentence. Detained since December 2022, he claims his trial is politicized. Following his removal, significant protests erupted, leading to multiple fatalities. He now faces isolation due to prison rule violations.
Pedro Castillo, the former President of Peru, was transferred to a hospital on Thursday, three days into a hunger strike protesting his ongoing rebellion trial. This move followed a report from the court indicating his need for medical attention due to a potential health issue that could include a fluid-electrolyte disorder and mild dehydration. The prosecution is seeking a sentence of 34 years in prison for Castillo.
Castillo’s detention began on December 7, 2022, when he attempted to dissolve Congress through a televised speech, resulting in his immediate removal from office. He characterizes his trial as politicized and has shown significant resistance to accepting legal counsel provided by the judiciary. During the trial’s opening last week, Castillo asserted that he did not commit rebellion, claiming he merely expressed the people’s will.
Following Castillo’s ousting, Dina Boluarte, the former Vice President, assumed the presidency. This political crisis spurred three months of protests that resulted in numerous fatalities among demonstrators. Notably, Castillo, initially a rural school teacher with no political background, also faces a separate criminal investigation related to alleged corruption from his time in office.
Peru’s corrections agency has deemed Castillo’s hunger strike a violation of prison regulations, subsequently revoking his visitation privileges and placing him in isolation. Furthermore, Walter Ayala, a former attorney and minister during Castillo’s administration, revealed that the ex-president has sought assistance from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, requesting an end to the sanctions imposed by the corrections agency.
In summary, former President Pedro Castillo is facing a tumultuous situation marked by a hunger strike amidst his rebellion trial, from which he has been hospitalized. His claims of politicization in the judicial process reflect a broader concern over political stability in Peru, particularly following the violent protests after his removal from office. His legal battles are compounded by an ongoing criminal investigation into corruption, adding to the complexity of his political landscape.
Original Source: www.usnews.com
