Living in Peru : your everyday companion

(LIP-wb) -- Enrique Mendoza, president of Peru's National Election Jury (JNE), informed that the regional/municipal elections will not be repeated in jurisdictions where vandals attacked voting premises and destroyed ballots and other electoral material.

Mendoza said in a press conference that instead of another election “lawsuits will be filed against the instigators”.

The JNE stated emphatically it will not accept violence as a pressure instrument, especially where violent protests where triggered by certain candidates who did not respect the rules of democracy.

On the other hand, Magdalena Chú, chairwoman of the executing National Office for Election Processes (ONPE), declared the actual decision to annul elections and to summon for a repeat is the responsibility of the regional election offices (JEE) in those locations where disturbances took place.

Chú added that as a result of the erupted violence 905 ballots were destroyed.

According to Interior Minister Pilar Mazzetti, 270 protesters were arrested by the National Police in 115 violent incidents registered in three days after last Sunday's elections.

Perpetrators who attacked members of the Armed Forces and police troops would face possible sentences between 5 and 12 years in jail.

- related articles -

- President Garcia orders use of weapons to stop post-election riots (LIP, Nov. 23, 2006)

- Peru: Protesters attack City Hall in Puente Piedra after election (LIP, Nov. 22, 2006)

- Mayor's office in San Martin, Peru set on fire (LIP, Nov. 20, 2006)

- read all articles about the elections

-