Pedro Castillo, former President of Peru, was hospitalized after starting a hunger strike protesting his rebellion trial. He has faced significant legal issues since his removal from office, characterized his trial as politically motivated, and legally contested his treatment in prison, calling on international human rights organizations for assistance.
Pedro Castillo, the former President of Peru, was transferred to a hospital on Thursday after he commenced a hunger strike three days prior, protesting his ongoing trial for rebellion. The court overseeing his trial indicated his transfer was due to a “health problem,” with concerns about possible “fluid-electrolyte disorder and mild dehydration.”
Castillo, who has been imprisoned since December 7, 2022, after attempting to dissolve Congress during a televised address, is facing a prosecution plea for a 34-year prison sentence. His removal from office was a direct result of this speech, and he has characterized his trial as “politicized” and a “pantomime,” further rejecting the legal representation offered by the judicial system.
In his defense, Castillo denied the charges of rebellion, asserting he only expressed the people’s wishes through his political discourse. Following his ousting, Dina Boluarte, the former Vice President, succeeded him. This led to three months of protests across Peru, resulting in numerous fatalities.
Before entering politics, Castillo was a rural school teacher with no previous political experience. Apart from his rebellion trial, he is under investigation for alleged corruption linked to his presidency. Peru’s corrections agency has deemed Castillo’s hunger strike in violation of prison regulations, leading to the suspension of his visitation privileges and his placement in isolation.
Walter Ayala, a former minister under Castillo and one of his attorneys, revealed that Castillo has sought precautionary measures from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, urging the Peruvian government to lift the sanctions imposed by the corrections agency.
In summary, former President Pedro Castillo has begun a hunger strike in protest of his rebellion trial, leading to his hospitalization due to health concerns. He maintains his innocence, asserting his actions were simply expressions of public sentiment. The political turmoil following his ousting has sparked significant unrest and fatalities in Peru, while he continues to face various legal challenges and sanctions in prison.
Original Source: www.clickorlando.com
