The 9 of Juliaca | POY Latam

Puno, Peru. The ninth day in Juliaca will never be the same again. The violent demonstrations that took place on that date during the months of January and February of this year left 18 civilians dead and hundreds wounded. All of the victims were extrajudicially executed by shots fired by the forces of law and order, many of them were not even participating in the protests against the government. According to recent investigations, the civilian victims did not represent an imminent danger to the life or integrity of the police at the time they were killed. However, despite a wide range of video and photographic evidence, to date no one has been found guilty or arrested for the massacres. The families of the murdered and wounded are fighting for their cases not to be forgotten. Meanwhile, in Peru, the government of Dina Boluarte has accumulated 50 victims of repression by the forces of law and order, being catalogued as the regime with the second highest number of deaths in Latin America during social demonstrations since the year 2000.

Demetrio Aroquipa and Dominga Hancco, parents of Jhamileth Aroquipa, victim of the Juliaca massacre on January 9. The two parents and their daughters went to buy food near the airport when Jhamileth was hit by a bullet. Although her parents took her to a post and then to a hospital, Jhamileth died at the age of 17.

Rosa Luque, mother of Heliot Arizaca, victim of the Juliaca massacre that occurred on January 9. That day Rosa was walking with several family members, including Heliot, near the airport. They continued moving forward and dispersed, Heliot went to look for his uncle, but he never returned. “At that moment, the police had come out to repress them that’s why they shot them like that.” Heliot died when he was only 18 years old.

Teodolinda Almirón, mother of Baylón Quispe, wounded on February 9 by a firearm projectile. That day Teodolinda and Baylón went to buy a cake; they were afraid of running into the demonstrations and therefore decided to take another route. When they were about to return, 11-year-old Baylón was hit by a bullet that damaged his foot. “They told us that we had to declare that it was not a bullet but a sharp object, but that was not possible. My son has bullet entry and exit.”

Vilma Quispe, daughter of Marcos Quispe, victim of the Juliaca massacre on January 9. Marcos and Vilma were walking when they passed by the airport and noticed the repression that the police were applying to the demonstrators. At that moment, Marcos made the decision to go and help the citizens. “He told me: I’ll be right back, five minutes, but unfortunately my father never came back.” He died from a gunshot wound that perforated his thorax and left elbow.

Marcelina y Elizabeth Mamani, esposa y hermana de Rúben Mamani, víctima de la masacre de Juliaca ocurrida el 9 de enero. Él estaba transitando cuando fue alcanzado por una bala de largo alcance. “Cuando fuimos a la fiscalía, nos dijeron que testificaramos como si fuera una piedra, pero no lo hicimos porque sabíamos que era bala”.

Rocio Apaza, hermana de Bryan Apaza, víctima de la masacre de Juliaca ocurrida el 9 de enero. Bryan estaba esperando a encontrarse con su madre luego de salir de una cabina de internet. Pese a que él no participaba en las protestas, fue alcanzado por una bala en la cabeza, estuvo en coma tres días y falleció. Él deseaba ser policía al igual que su hermano mayor. Sin embargo, luego de su asesinato su hermano renunció a su cargo al saber que las fuerzas del orden le quitaron la vida a su hermano.

Elizabeth Mamani and Jaime Choquequispe, sister and brother-in-law of Christian Mamani, victim of the Juliaca massacre that occurred on January 9. After watching a movie, Christian left home. Hours later his sister did not know his whereabouts. Calls rang, but there was no answer. She began to worry. Christian had been hit by a bullet that pierced his thorax.

Javier and Nelly Cayo, siblings of Roger Cayo, victim of the Juliaca massacre that occurred on January 9. Roger worked as a motorcycle taxi driver. That day he left his home at 9 am to go downtown to work. Hours passed and his brothers were waiting for him to have lunch, but he never arrived. Roger had died. The cause: high range firearm projectile.

Hernan Silva was returning home in Juliaca after attending a family reunion on February 9. To get home he had to pass through the airport, and that is when he noticed that the police started shooting. He stumbled and fell, the last thing he remembers is hearing a shot and an explosion. Moments later his hand was severed. Months after the tragedy, he still cannot recover from the event.

Since December 7, 2022, 50 Peruvian citizens – mostly indigenous and peasants – have been extrajudicially executed by members of law enforcement, and more than a thousand citizens were injured during demonstrations against the government of Dina Boluarte and the Congress of the Republic.

On January 9 and February 9 of this year, in the city of Juliaca, located in the Puno region of southern Peru, 18 civilians were killed and hundreds were injured. All of the victims died as a result of bullets or lead shot fired by members of the police and military, despite the fact that their use is prohibited for the control of demonstrations.

According to recent investigations, the civilian victims did not represent an imminent danger to the life or integrity of the members of the forces of law and order at the time they were killed. In fact, many of them were not participating in the anti-government protests. However, despite a wide range of video and photographic evidence of the excessive use of force, to date there is no one guilty or arrested for the massacres. The families of those killed and wounded are fighting to ensure that their cases are not forgotten, these are some of their stories: