No-confidence motion against Interior Minister Astudillo over murder of candidate Susy Aponte in Caraz
Juntos por el Perú announced a no-confidence motion against Interior Minister César Astudillo following the murder of regional candidate Susy Aponte in Caraz.
JPP pushes no-confidence vote against Interior Minister over death of journalist and candidate in Áncash
According to diariocorreo.pe, Juntos por el Perú (JPP) parliamentary group spokesman Ernesto Zunini announced on Monday, 21 September that his parliamentary group would pursue a no-confidence motion against Interior Minister César Astudillo Salcedo.
The announcement came two days after the murder of Susy Aponte Polo de Tello, journalist and candidate for the Áncash Regional Government on the Socios por Áncash ticket. Aponte was shot on Saturday, 19 September whilst conducting campaign activities in Caraz market, in Huaylas province.
Zunini questioned through his social media the measures adopted by the Government in response to threats that Aponte had reported before her death. "Our democracy cannot become accustomed to the idea that reporting crime is equivalent to signing a death sentence. Susy Aponte Polo reported threats against her life. Days later she was murdered," the legislator stated.
On 10 September, Aponte had publicly reported that she was receiving death threats and said she had filed corresponding complaints with the authorities. These claims are part of the background under investigation and do not by themselves establish responsibility of the people mentioned by the candidate.
Zunini said the Interior Ministry must respond regarding the protection measures adopted in that context. "Given the gravity of what has occurred, the Juntos por el Perú parliamentary group will pursue a no-confidence motion against the Interior Minister," he stated.
JPP's spokesman also called on other parliamentary groups to review regulations that, according to his position, hinder action against organised crime, and requested progress on a reform of the National Police. These statements represent JPP's position and do not imply that the motion has been approved or that the Chamber of Deputies has decided to remove the minister from office.
The initiative could receive support from other groups. Víctor Piñán Mamani, spokesman for the Civic Works Party, indicated that his parliamentary group would assess whether to join the motion announced by JPP. Piñán also reported that his group sent a letter to the Interior Minister requesting information about investigations related to the murder.
The Obras parliamentarian had previously questioned the Interior sector's strategy in response to public insecurity. On 17 September, during an interpellation of Astudillo in the Chamber of Deputies, he demanded results in the face of rising crime.
The motion is announced just days after Astudillo appeared before Parliament to answer a set of 27 questions linked to extortion, contract killing, homicides, budget for citizen security and action against organised crime. The Commission on National Defence and Internal Order also summoned him during September to report on the country's security situation.
On the ground, the National Police deployed specialist personnel in Caraz to investigate the crime. PNP general commander Fredy López Mendoza and personnel from the Homicide Division participated in the proceedings. Authorities are holding people in detention as part of the investigation. The determination of perpetrators, motives and potential responsibility falls to the Public Prosecutor and the Judicial Power.
Source: Google News PE — Crime