Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Prosecutors in the province of Huamanga - Ayacucho, a region in Peru's south-central Andes, are pressing charges against a Peruvian police officer for having allegedly killed two farmers.

According to Huamanga province prosecutors, Carlos Alberto Rodriguez, a 28-year-old Peruvian police officer is responsible for the deaths of two farmers, both of which were killed during riots on February 19.

Pushing for state subsidies and concessions on loans, farmers across the country began protests in February, which later turned into riots, leading to the deaths of several villagers.

Rodriguez is being held responsible for the death of two of the farmers.

During investigations, the police officer admitted to having fired at the two men with his rifle. Peru's ministry of the interior assured that police officers only had rifles with rubber bullets.

If convicted, Rodriguez is looking at no less than 15 years in prison.

Peru's national police has also explained that weapons used during riots were "non-lethal", stating they were needed to control protesters. Police have assured that it is impossible that the rubber bullets were the cause of death.

According to police, forensic ballistics reports state that the two farmers died because they were shot with lead bullets and not with rubber ones.

On the other hand, charges are also being pressed on Teodoro Félix Quispe Mitacc, a union leader. It was reported that Quispe is being charged with inciting a riot and instigating farmers.