The Peruvian Episcopal Conference (CEP) issued a statement emphasizing the autonomy of the National Board of Justice (JNJ) in the face of the Legislature’s decision to investigate it summarily due to alleged serious reasons, which will lead to the dismissal of its members.
“Peru is experiencing a crisis that creates greater instability due to the decision of the Congress to carry out a ‘summary’ investigation in 14 days, referring to the ‘serious factors’ that have been the members of the National Board of Justice and that will ultimately lead to the dismissal of its members,” the document said.
Remember that the JNJ It is an autonomous body whose members enjoy a guarantee for the exercise of their functions of independence and cannot be removed from their positions, and it encourages respect for Article 97 of the Constitution, which establishes that the process of investigation determined by Congress should occur under the same. limitations observed in judicial procedure.
In addition, it calls for resolving these conflicts with respect for the constitutional order, the principle of legality, and the guarantee of defense.
He pointed out that this conflict must be resolved without personal or group interests and that the interests of Peru and the common good must prevail.
“We believe in a strong democracy with peace and social justice, and we declare that the church, Based on the social doctrine, wants to always be united with the people, and therefore we invite the legitimate and genuine recognition between the high power of the public and the constitution to solve the urgent problems that still afflict our society,” he concluded.
They will march on Saturday
The representatives of social, union, peasant, political, and human rights organizations, gathered in the Platform for Democracy, reported that they will go to the streets this Saturday, September 16, at 4 p.m., to defend democracy and reject authoritarianism. This time, he expressed his intention to expel JNJ members. They will leave Campo de Mars.
“We are united to defend democracy, against authoritarianism, and for a country with social justice,” said Jennie Dador, executive secretary of the National Human Rights Coordinator.
Representing the Single Central of Workers, Pedro Chang said that this is a reaction of citizens to the violation of JNJ’s autonomy and the attempts to weaken democratic institutions.
In turn, Gustavo Minaya, from the General Confederation of Workers of Peru, maintained that they would go to the streets for the justice that those who died in the December 2022 protests did not receive.
JNE: It will change the balance of powers
The president of the National Election Jury (ETC), Jorge Salas Arenas, said that Congress is empowered to investigate members of the JNJ, but only if there are sufficient reasons, which is not the case in this case, so doing so would create a non-balance of powers.
He explained that later Congress will try to remove him and the head of the National Office of Electoral Processes (ONPE), Piero Corvetto, because of the anger since the results of the 2021 election. “They announced it. I see it in the statements of several congressmen,” he warned.
The data
Subscription. Young people from different regions and ideologies following a political training course signed a document in which they rejected the decision of the Congress against JNJ. They demand respect for the rule of law.
Expressing
The document from the Peruvian Episcopal Conference emphasizes that the JNJ is an autonomous constitutional body.
